"I had told my sister from the very beginning that there was too much of a coincidence that me, my wife and her all have the same tumor," Lupiano said. On March 7, he posted a page on social media looking for others from Colonia High School with brain tumors. Lupiano said he started searching for instances of Colonia High graduates having brain tumors and was stunned to discover 15 people in total, with two newly discovered cases pending further. Every inch of Colonia High School, part of the Woodbridge Township School District, from buildings to fields, is being tested for radiation to determine if there is a link between the school and the number of cancer cases diagnosed amongst former students and staff. The results of those tests will determine the township's next steps, Mayor John McCormac said, adding Woodbridge also is working with the state Department of Health to develop a portal for people to provide more detailed medical information to confirm the accuracy of the list. Through our specialized programs and neurological services, the St. Jude Neurosciences Institute provides compassionate patient-centered services, life-changing research, and a relentless commitment to advancing patient outcomes. St. Judes neurosurgery program is one of the most advanced in the nation. 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. Al Lupiano, a graduate of the high school, believes there's a link between Colonia High School and brain tumors diagnosed in 108 people over a period of three decades, ending in the early 2000s. "I dont know that we know enough yet to be definitive in terms of causation, et cetera.". Last year, his wife, Michele Lupiano, was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma and his sister, Angela DeCillis, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A cluster of over 100 rare brain tumors in the past 30 years sparks a health inspection at Colonia High School in New Jersey. 3 min read. 6 Amazon travel essentials for your next getaway, starting at $12. 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. Even if the brain tumor is not technically cancer, it can grow and become life-threatening if left untreated. Because the school remains open, we demand greater urgency to find out if potentially harmful substances are harming our children and staff at Colonia High School.". He found a total of 104 former students and faculty - about half are cancerous. Request Appointment. 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. Ms. Vercoski graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Nursing. All rights reserved. If you are a Colonia High School graduate, student, or staff member who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, contact MLG today to participate in the investigation. In two weeks, the firm will be done running tests, send the data out to be analyzed and report back. He investigated whether other people who grew up nearby had experienced brain tumors, too. We encourage families and individuals in the Woodbridge area to take advantage of this opportunity for free early detection screening for brain tumors. Radon testing was conducted at the school and last monthlocal officials joined by state environmental and health officials announced no evidence of any cancer-causing hazards were found at the site that warrant further investigation. ", McCormac hopes testing will determine theres nothing at the school contributing to brain tumors: Then experts will have to figure out why its happening elsewhere. Ms. Vercoski has also contributed to legal publications as an author and values continuing education for attorneys. "It is not enough to address parents of operating school with suspected cancer cluster through written statements given to media outlets," the petition said. Its just extremely rare. "We and our children deserve more! "If we can help people find evidence of early-stage tumors, they can avail themselves of better, more varied treatment options. Gov. Lupiano's sister, also a graduate of the high school, died recently from brain cancer. The University of California at Irvine, Chapman College, and Cal Poly Pomona are all within easy freeway access. 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. Lupiano, an environmental scientist and industrial engineer, picked up on a trend. Michele M. Vercoski, a partner of McCune Law Group, is investigating the potential link between the rare brain tumor and many former Colonia High School students out of the MLG's office in Newark, New Jersey. She made it five years," said Jason Wisinski. 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. "It's certainly concerning because the rate of primary brain tumors is certainly higher than what we would expect in the general population," said Dr. Arif Kamal, Chief Patient Officer at the American Cancer Society. She had an inoperable high grade tumor called anaplastic astrocytoma.". We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. an annualized mean net cost of care approaching $150,000; and the highest annualized mean net costs for last-year-of-life care, relative to other cancers, at $135,000 to $210,000 (depending on age and sex) per patient. McCormac says last Saturday, environmentalists placed random canisters inside the school to collect air samples. After doing some research, Al Lupiano told TODAY that he discovered 107 former . Learn how to access Aeries, Chromebook support, and much more! That, the "concerned Colonia High School parents, alumni, and township members" petitioning on behalf of their school community say, isn't acceptable. Named one the countrys highest performing hospitals in neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report and one of America's 100 Best Hospitals in stroke care by Healthgrades we offer a level of care available at very few hospitals in the nation. 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. 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. While we are waiting for the results of the radiological survey to be finalized, precious time is being wasted. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), JSTOR - Academic Journals, Books, and Primary Sources, IB/Honors Application for Incoming Freshmen, McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, Parent Teacher Student Association - PTSA, 2023/2024 New Incoming Student Registration Information. 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.. Jason Wisinski, who lost his wife and sister-in-law, both Colonia High alumnae, to primary malignant brain tumors at the age of 38, became one of many convinced that a cluster a. Brain tumors represent the highest per-patient initial cost of care for any cancer group with an annualized mean net cost of care approaching $150,000; and the highest annualized mean net costs for last-year-of-life care, relative to other cancers, at $135,000 to $210,000 (depending on age and sex) per patient. Grad Nite Tickets on Sale, 12:40 PM - 1:04 PM
We had three of us by that date knowing we had brain tumors.. Follow her on Twitter to see her recent stories. Since 2007, Michele M. Vercoski has obtained excellent financial recoveries to clients in Personal Injury, Product Liability, Class Action fraud,Commercial Litigation,and workplace harassment and discrimination. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. We were told we have to make a decision on when to have the baby versus when were supposed to have surgery to try to remove the tumor, he said. Cancer Cluster Probe at NJ HS Underway After 100+ Diagnosed With Brain Tumors, What Is Aphasia? "It might feel like it is more prevalent than it actually is.". Lupiano, who has a 30-year background in environmental science and safety engineering, never anticipatedthe list of cases growing so long. What is graupel? "The nurses thought (she) was my sister-in-law because she was the one with the tumor. Medical experts are urging caution but also advising that there is no need for residents to panic. DeCillis started showing stroke-like symptoms and went to the hospital in August 2021. It struck Jason Wisinski that there was something unusual about their cases. Lupiano's sister, Angela died on February 17 from Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM. If you dont use it, the Bb footer will slide up. 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. 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. Along with MLGs PHDs in Public Health, Ms. Vercoski will be investigating this case out of the firms Newark office. IE 11 is not supported. 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. Al Lupiano, a graduate of the high school, believes there's a link between Colonia High School and brain tumors diagnosed in 108 people over a period of three decades, ending in the early 2000s. The physical, occupational and speech therapists in our outpatient neurorehabilitationprogram provide skilled, experienced support for people with movement disorders. A cluster of over 100 rare brain tumors in the past 30 years sparks a health inspection at Colonia High School in New Jersey. All Rights Reserved. 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. The firm has been using Geiger counters, which detect nuclear radiation, "to scan every square inch of the property," McCormac said, and placing radon detectors in all the classrooms, offices, gym and auditorium. Academic Achievement Awards, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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