Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare and abnormally large brain tumour Acoustic Neuroma (AN) in 1999 when he was just 27 years old. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. His sister succumbed to brain cancer. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano is among 94 former students and staff from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, who have been diagnosed with rare brain tumors. Today, he still suffers lingering effects. Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist and a 1989 graduate of the N.J. high school began investigating Colonia High School in Woodbridge when he realized many others with ties to the school suffered the rare brain tumors, just like he did, 20 years ago. Earlier this year, Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist and Colonia High School graduate, discovered more than 115 people who spent time at the school had a rare brain tumor. 3 min read. The onset of brain tumors in more than one hundred people who attended or worked at Colonia High School in New Jersey has continued to baffle experts. This all came to fruition in August of last year, and it just startled Lupiano. I didnt feel that my kids were safe there until actual soil, groundwater and air samples were collected and nobody wanted to do it.. Listing for: Select Medical Corporation. "I went on Facebook on March 7, and I asked for the people on Facebook to help me find others. Lupiano, his wife and his sister all Colonia High grads were all diagnosed with rare brain tumors. Lupiano grew up in Woodbridge Township and he now works as an environmental scientist; he no longer lives in Woodbridge. All of the cases have ties to Colonia High School, either as students or employees. There's a vast array of treatments, but again, we're dealing with so many different types of primary brain tumors here that they're all treated very differently. Colonia High School was reportedly the common denominator among those suffering from the tumors Credit: CBS NEW YORK Al Lupiano, speaking to CBS2, said the rare brain tumors were discovered in people who attended Colonia High School. The statewide graduation rate fell slightly, from 91% in 2019-20 to 90.6%. How many people do we mean here? As of Thursday, Lupiano said he has confirmed 65 cases of people with rare brain tumors and they all are either Colonia High School graduates or had worked there, he says. Since . The city of Woodbridge, NJ is conducting an investigation after more than 100 former students and staff at the local Colonia High School were found to have developed brain . Nsikan runs the health and science desk at WNYC/Gothamist. Almost 100 people from the very same New Jersey high school have all developed brain tumors. "We're going to test and hope we find nothing," McCormac previously said. The same day my sister was diagnosed (August 2021), I received the devastating news my wife Michele (nee Zawada) also has a very large (3.0 cm), very rare brain tumor called an Acoustic Neuroma (aka Vestibular Schwannoma) on her left side. He added that the Environmental Protection Agency has gotten involved in the investigation. Again too early to tell yet, I think, to draw any definitive conclusions.". McCormac, along with schools Superintendent Joseph Massimino; Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; and Judith Persichilli, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, announced the results of the radiation testing during a press conference at CHS on May 26. "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. Luciano has reported his findings to Colonia High School. Social media has played a big role in shining the light of truth on this situation. Massimino sent the same statement to NJ Advance Media Monday. "Given the ongoing environmental investigation and testing, it is premature to comment on any link and/or causation of cancer diagnosis that may or may not be related to Colonia High School," said Woodbridge town spokesman Hagerty. Lupiano's sister passed away in February, 2022 at the young age of 44. Hill: Brain tumors, relative to other types of cancer, are typically rare but can be very lethal. Its not air. They said it was about a one in a billion odds. He said in 40 years of neurology, he had never heard of a married couple that both had the same type of primary brain tumor. Angela has four daughters who have or will go to Colonia High School. He shared a 2020 Emmy for the PBS NewsHour series Stopping a Killer Pandemic and in 2019 received a George FosterPeabodyAwardfor the PBS NewsHour series The Plastic Problem. Nsikan has also worked for NPR, Science News Magazine, Science Magazine, KUSP Central Coast Public Radio, the Santa Cruz Sentinel and as a writer at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University. National Cancer Institutes list of 27 common afflictions. The incident rate for GBM is approximately 30 out of 1,000,000 people. Janice was pregnant with her and Jason's only child. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. In 1999, when he was just 27, Al. Lupianos wife was also diagnosed with a brain tumor, the NY Post reported. A total of 104 former students and faculty with brain tumors responded to a Facebook post. A Colonia High School alum said he found 107 people with brain tumors who went to or worked at the school. Accordingly, no further testing or remediation is required or recommended at this time. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Medical experts are urging caution but also advising that there is no need for residents to panic. Asking them to be patient for several more weeks is unacceptable. Jason Wisinski is another person affected by the spate of tumor cases. Since March . But even more rare was the fact that his wife and sister later found out that they had similar medical conditions. Three of the victims are Al Lupiano, his wife Michelle, and his sister Angele Decillis. WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. He is keeping a list. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006, (RELATED: Video Shows Man Repeatedly Running Over Woman With SUV After Minor Incident). Both had graduated from Colonia High School, the news outlet reported. A comprehensive investigation of soil, indoor air, and groundwater shall be conducted to determine if children and staff are exposed to unhealthy levels of toxins other than already identified PCBs and pesticides., In his letter to the parents in the school district, Massimino wrote: Nothing in the newly reported information has any bearing on the prior studies which determined last spring that no radiation was found inside or outside of Colonia High School. Dr. Marc Siegel discusses brain tumors that emerged among former Colonia High School students on 'Tucker Carlson Tonight.' Local and federal environmental agencies say they are assisting. They learned of their tumors just eight days apart, while Janice was pregnant with her and Jason's only child. As a concerned uncle and community member, I pray we find nothing, Lupiano says. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. It has been lightly edited for clarity. Theyre testing the air for radon. A A. I had stage 4 cancer. Colonia High School is now the subject of radiation detecting research. He said he is specifically looking for anyone who graduated from or attend Colonia High School from approximately 1975 to 1995. An alumnus of Colonia High School in Woodbridege, N.J. is investigating his former high school, claiming he has counted 115 people who attended or worked there to have had a rare brain tumor, according to CBS News. The sample came back indicating PCBs at concentration of 4.3 ug/wipe (or 100 cm2), indicating that PCBs may be present in indoor air, according to a report compiled by Komorek and obtained by NJ Advance Media. Is it a cancer cluster or a coincidence? WOODBRIDGE - Work is underway to create a portal for people with ties to Colonia High School who have developed brain tumors to share information with the New Jersey Department of Health. There could be a real problem here, and our residents deserve to know if there are any dangers, Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said, according to the outlet. They are also both graduates of Colonia High School. Stanmyre joined WNYC's Morning Edition host Michael Hill to explain the latest on these cases and what the investigation could entail. "It is also important to note that the data compiled and posted to social media by Mr. Lupiano has yet to be evaluated and verified by any federal, state, county or municipal agency with competent jurisdiction to fully vet and verify his research. A man investigating his former high school in New Jersey says he has counted 115 people who attended or worked there have had a rare brain tumor. "In addition, DEP's further review does not indicate sources of environmental exposures of concern to public health. Find NJ.com on Faceboo. Lupiano says that most of the people on his list were at the high school prior to 1997. Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky, Belvidere Jeep assembly plant shut down indefinitely, Chicago Weather: Cloudy and much cooler Thursday. In April, the township entered an emergency agreement with T&M Associates, of Middletown, for professional environmental engineering services for a radiological assessment of Colonia High in an amount not to exceed $221,350. All Rights Reserved. Through his posts, Lupiano, CHS Class of 1989, wanted to find out if CHS is the cause of primary brain tumors that have affected more than 100 former students and staff. Al Lupiano revealed he had a brain tumor 20 years ago, before his wife had one and so did his sister - who died in February aged just 44. Hochul deflects when asked about 'good cause' eviction bill, Judge: Former coach's discrimination lawsuit against New York Giants and NFL can proceed, Supreme Court justices pour water on NYs push to save mob-busting seaport watchdog, NJ Legislature OKs bill to make landlords, sellers warn residents about past floods. Last year, Lupianos wife and sister also developed brain tumors, as first reported byCBS New York. On March 29, 2022, Lupiano wrote an article in a local newsletter, asking for help to identify people who developed the brain tumors, to collect data to plan further steps for answers to a probably cause. "There's lots and lots of people calling me, saying, 'Look, I didn't go to the high school, but I live a mile away, and we call our block cancer alley,'" he told Fox News. Can be very lethal their tumors just eight days apart, while janice was pregnant with her Jason! On Facebook on March 7, and I asked for the people on Facebook to help find... 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