Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Ms. Vercoski takes a special interest in the connection between health problems and exposure to environmental issues affecting New Jersey, the state where she grew up and where her family and friends continue to live. "We thank Mayor McCormac and the local residents for raising these concerns and we ask for patience as we pursue the science to try to identify answers. Sonora High School encourages students to become life-long learners and contributing members of an ever-changing world. The environmental engineering firm T+M Associates was contracted by Woodbridge Township after growing concerns about a possible link between the Central New Jersey school and brain cancer. He joined the search for alumni and former staff at the school who'd also developed brain tumors and told TODAY multiple people have reached out to him. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. CNN's Ana Cabrera speaks to Al Lupiano, a former student. NeuroBlate: using this minimally invasive surgical tool, which combines robotics, lasers, temperature mapping and sophisticated software, our neurosurgeons are able to ablate complex brain lesions with extreme precision. I said, Im going to go on Facebook and either find answers or make myself look foolish and put out what I found and open myself up to the ridicule of science.. "I need your help Facebook. Mystery as 100 people. Boys & Girls V/FS Track & Field Freeway League Tri-Meet, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM She left the nursing profession in 2001 to pursue a legal career with a special emphasis on using her nursing knowledge to help those in legal need. New Jersey NJ Parents Demand Swifter Action in School Cancer Probe After 100+ Brain Tumors Diagnosed More than 100 former Colonia High School students and staff over a 30-year period. That, the "concerned Colonia High School parents, alumni, and township members" petitioning on behalf of their school community say, isn't acceptable. Hear his response. That's 100 people with their life forever changed, 100 families having to be told the terrible news, 100 stories of shock and disbelief with the diagnosis. Phil Murphy told NJ.com the possible brain tumor cluster was disturbing but stressed it was too soon to make definitive conclusions about the cause. WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. "My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day - I talk to her all the time," Wisinski said. It took a lot of computing power, but we may finally have a full picture of a humans brain development over the course of their life. Your location: 101 E Valencia Mesa Dr, Fullerton, CA 92835, personalized stroke services, treatments and services. NHS Weekly Meeting, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Hers was positive for an acoustic neuroma, also on the left side, also 30 millimeters, exactly the same as I had. Youll often find contaminants that are in the environment, Dr. Peter Shields, the deputy director of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, told TODAY. Frequently, in hazmat, you never find it in the first shot," Lupiano said. The city of Woodbridge has been taking the lead on that front, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for testing at a school that graduated roughly 15,000 people over the last 30 years. Our physicians and multidisciplinary teams are at the forefront of creating national models for evidence-based treatment. Academic Saturday School, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM I dont have any data that says anybody should be concerned right now, and if we had that, we would certainly take action immediately," McCormac said. Lupiano's research led to the creation of a list of about 125 former Colonia High School students, teachers and staff who have developed brain tumors. Nearby is California State University at Fullerton as well as Fullerton Community College. katherine noelle wyman; cape breton post obituaries 2022. location symbol text in word; list of female jockeys australia; mike conley house columbus ohio address She believes that every childs home, school, and town should be safe to grow up in and that no one should suffer due to circumstances outside of their control. All three were diagnosed with a brain tumor. Our neurosurgical smart suite the first of its kind in California combines intraoperative MRI and a revolutionary neuro-navigation system that function together like a highly precise GPS system inside the brain, giving patients the best potential for successful outcomes. If you are one of the former students or staff who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, we want to hear from you. The environmental testing is expected to last a month. Her sister, Cheryl Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. In addition to Ms. Vercoskis medical and legal expertise in environmental areas, MLG has an in-house team of lawyers and public health professionals, including two PhDs in public health, who are ready to lead the investigation to protect current and former students and staff of Colonia High School against the fallout from this rare brain tumor. In the meantime, Lupiano would like to see additional testing started right away. As tens of thousands of students and hundreds of staff have attended and worked at Colonia High School, and 1,300 students currently attend school there, it is urgent to understand the cause of this elevated occurrence of brain tumors. She was declining quickly, and my attention was elsewhere, Al Lupiano said. Both sisters were graduates of Colonia High School. Additionally, alumni and staff need to know what is causing these brain tumors in order to protect themselves and monitor their health carefully. 2023 www.mycentraljersey.com. Lupiano, his wife Michele, and his sister were all Colonia High School graduates and all developed brain tumors, although Lupiano's and his wife's are benign. Cancer Cluster Probe at NJ HS Underway After 100+ Diagnosed With Brain Tumors, What Is Aphasia? That conversation inspired Al Lupiano to do some research. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. He had confirmed 15 . Band Spaghetti Fundraiser. On Feb. 17, Angela died from Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM. As the school remains open during the investigation, some students are concerned. In 1999, Al Lupiano says he was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, a type of benign brain tumor that grows on a nerve that runs from the brain to the inner ear. Reports claim that more than 60 former students and staff of Colonia High School have been diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called . Learn more about our mission, vision and values. She graduated from Tulane Law School in 2004 and passed the bar in New York, New Jersey, and California. Band Booster Club Meeting, 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM Sonora High School encourages students to become life-long learners and contributing members of an ever-changing world. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. I called him and asked him how we could be of help, McCormac told TODAY. Both sisters graduated from Colonia High School, just like Al Lupiano in 1989, his wife Michelle in 1991, and his sister, Angela Decillis in 1995. "This is only the tip of the iceberg. When DeCillis started having symptoms, Michele Lupiano made an appointment for an MRI. She had (another) pretty bad seizure about 31 weeks.. At the time, medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. JROTC Sports Day Competition, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Lupiano, however,maintains more testing is needed to definitively prove there is nothing at the school linked to brain cancer. "We're just going to wait to find out. WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Parents like Dawn Genoni are willing to wait for those results -- at least at the time Genoni spoke to News 4 last month. Those wishing to make an appointment should call 844-283-7226 (844-BTF-SCAN) or visit www.btfscanwoodbridge.com. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. "I do think there needs to be greater emphasis placed upon moving to conduct the next phase of sampling. The foundations work is part of a formal research study in partnership with Weill Cornell Medicine/NY-Presbyterian in New York. You have to find out if its something thats going to affect my kids, Al Lupiano, 50, of Jamesburg, New Jersey, told TODAY. A cluster of over 100 rare brain tumors in the past 30 years sparks a health inspection at Colonia High School in New Jersey. Ms. Vercoski has also contributed to legal publications as an author and values continuing education for attorneys. 2. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The school has stayed open, with local officials apparently telling parents that "at this time, there is no discernable health or wellness threat to students, staff, or visitors at Colonia High School," according to the petition writers. Football Junior High Strength Camp, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM In 1999, when he was just 27, Al. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Over 100 cases of brain tumors and other cancers have been discovered in former students of Colonia High School, constituting a cancer cluster according to Stanford's Dr. Paul Graham. BTF is using a new generation of Swoop portable MRI scanners developed by HyperFine. Thatled Lupiano to posta message on Facebook last month asking if others who attended or worked at the school had been diagnosed with brain tumors. Of those, only three were linked to possible exposures; of those, only one had a clear cause identified. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. CNN's Ana Cabrera speaks to Al Lupiano, a former student who is now investigating the school. DeCillis died at age 44 on February 17, 2022. medical mystery at a high school following dozens of diagnoses of brain tumors. It does not store any personal data. Other than that, we dont have any experience to link us together.. The MRI process does not expose anyone to radiation. The National Cancer Institute defines a cancer cluster as "the occurrence of a greater than expected number of cancer cases among a group of people in a defined geographic area over a specific time period.". Our Approach. All the affected attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge, dating back decades. His sister Angela DeCillis had a stage 4 glioblastoma that took her life in February 2022 at age 44, just six months after she was diagnosed. WOODBRIDGE - The township has approved an emergency contract of $221,350 for an engineering firm to conduct radiological assessments at Colonia High School, following a 1989 graduate's. Grad Nite Tickets on Sale, 12:40 PM - 1:04 PM (TODAY has not confirmed each individual case.) Advanced Neurological Care. Boys & Girls V/FS Track & Field Freeway League Tri-Meet, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). I had been struggling for several weeks after she passed away, trying to figure out what to do, Al Lupiano said. Our fellowship-trained neurosurgeons and neurointerventional radiologists utilize these and other leading-edge technologies to provide expert care for the full range of neurosurgical conditions, from brain injuries and complex brain tumors to nerve compression and herniated disks. We kept saying, Well, we grew up in the same township, Al Lupiano said. I was feeling lost, and I had remembered this study that I had started, and I made a promise to her that I wasnt going to stop.. On April 10, he recorded the 100th case of someone having a primary brain tumor. WOODBRIDGE The Brain Tumor Foundation (BTF) is offeringfree early brain tumor detection, with MRI screenings, in response to concerns surrounding more than 125 former Colonia High School students, teachers and employees who have apparently developed brain tumors. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, Man who spotted subway shooting suspect Frank R. James, flagged down officers speaks out, Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts. More than 100 graduates of a New Jersey high school have been diagnosed with brain tumors over the past 30 years, prompting concern that there might be a connection between the school and. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. And with the list that grew by two people in just the last week, the results of recentradiation and radon testing at the school on East Street can't come soon enough. The environmental assessment study at Colonia High School was recently completed, in response to allegations that suggested the school had radiological hazards that contributed to diagnoses. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. When Wisinskis sister-in-law Cheryl Black was recovering from surgery to remove her grade 2 oligodendroglioma in 2007, his wife, Janice Wisinski, who was 29 weeks pregnant, started having a seizure in Black's hospital room, he recalled. Lupiano has been leading efforts for attention to the potential link ofbrain tumors in the community. Medical experts are urging caution but also advising that there is no need for residents to panic. They learned of their tumors just eight days apart. The St. Jude Sleep Centerbrings unusual expertise to the most common and undiagnosed sleep problem in America today: sleep apnea. Ms. Vercoski, a Middlesex County native, has a personal connection to the health outcomes of this type of rare brain tumor which has manifested in Colonia High School alumni and staff at unusually high rates. She believesassisting her fellow neighbors and friends can help elevate the entire community and shine a spotlight on the need for systemic change. Also in the city are several pre-schools, two Christian schools, and a Catholic school with classes for children from K-8. In an update on his Facebook page, Lupiano said the radiological team hired by the township to look for both radiation and radon has concluded. Learn more about our pain treatment services. He found a total of 104 former students and faculty - about half are cancerous. Her hands were shaking, like violently shaking, and my wife basically went into a grand mal seizure (which causes violent muscle contractions and loss of consciousness)," Wisinki TODAY. After Jason Wisinki's wife and sister-in-law, who both attended Colonia High School, died from brain tumors, the 51-year-old from Hunterdon, New Jersey, who did not attend Colonia, contacted Lupiano through Facebook. Around the same time, Michele Lupiano was experiencing some hearing loss and balance problems. Pain profoundly affects every area of your life which is why weve created one of the countrys most successful chronic pain programs. More than 200 people have signed an online petition demanding a public meeting with state officials in New Jersey and federal authorities over concerns about a medical mystery at a high school following dozens of diagnoses of brain tumors. The University of California at Irvine, Chapman College, and Cal Poly Pomona are all within easy freeway access. Along with MLGs PHDs in Public Health, Ms. Vercoski will be investigating this case out of the firms Newark office. "It might feel like it is more prevalent than it actually is.". Follow her on Twitter to see her recent stories. York, New Jersey, and my attention was elsewhere, Al you never colonia high school brain tumor it in the shot! College, and my attention was elsewhere, Al Lupiano said the potential link ofbrain tumors in to. 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