More than 80 people with a cancer diagnosis could be tied to a suspected cancer cluster at the High School. While both the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Environmental Protection Agency are expressing concern, theyre waiting for the testing to be complete. Some clustering of cancer cases happens by chance, but people tend to notice and report situations where rates seem to be above average. Or should it also include the larger community, or even nearby communities? For a better-informed future. And how many children have I buried? Colonia graduate Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist, was the first to sound the alarm about the potential cluster. The type(s) of cancer seen is also important. Cancer Information, Answers, and Hope. Kamal said there is no need for people to get screened for brain tumors unless they are experiencing unusual symptoms such as new headaches, vision problems or issues with balance. Was it 5 years ago? The township authorized the emergency contract of more than $200,000 in April to conduct the radiological assessment of the school and grounds after Al Lupiano, of Jamesburg, a 1989 Colonia High School graduate,developed a list of more than 120 people who were students, teachers or staff members at the school who have apparently developed brain tumors. Lupiano, unfortunately, knows the effects of the problem firsthand. "I said, 'What is the likelihood that a husband and wife can both have an acoustic neuroma?' Crit Rev Toxicol. The situation first came to light after Colonia High School alumnus Al Lupiano identified at least 104 former students and staff who suffered from rare brain tumors and cancer. Why has no one attempted to contact the individual who brought the potential cancer cluster to light? We appreciate the NJDOH, NJDEP, ATSDR, and CDC assistance to the Woodbridge Townships environmental investigation that is currently ongoing, but strongly believe that this is not enough. Al Lupiano first sent public nearly two months ago about concerns of a cancer cluster related to Colonia High School. People concerned about a possible cancer cluster can report it to a local or state health department. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/default.htm on April 29, 2019. Int J Environ Res Public Health. The numbers have risen from around 80 to now more than 90 people with a cancer diagnosis who could be tied to a suspected cancer cluster at Colonia High School in Woodbridge. We are concerned Colonia High School parents, alumni, and township members, writing on behalf of our school community. Scientists do their best to piece together the puzzle when there is a cancer cluster, but more times than not, they dont find a likely cause. 2008;100(9):614-621. Testing paid for by Woodbridge is now well underway, as an increasingly large affected community waits and hopes for answers. Theyll need to make sure that the cases are cancer and that they know the specific diagnosis. The parallels are the problems with trying to get exposure to all the organizations to try and get an investigation, he said. Random patterns are the most common reason for a cancer cluster with no identified cause. He rejected claims by community members that health officials are moving too slowly to investigate the possible cancer cluster. Probe at Colonia High School Looks At Possible Link Between School and Brain Tumors - NBC New York New Jersey Cancer Cluster Probe at NJ HS Underway After 100+ Diagnosed With Brain. Early testing at the Woodbridge school by a consultant for the township is focusing on radiation levels, rather than on drinking water that poisoned wells in the Shore town. It is not enough to address parents of operating school with suspected cancer cluster through written statements given to media outlets. J Natl Cancer Inst. At that point, steps can be taken to address it. and 'What is the likelihood that a sister of me and my wife can have a brain tumor at the same time?'". Lupiano is also the whistleblower who discovered a possible cancer cluster in graduates and educators from the high school. Some of your concerns might be relieved during the initial phone call. 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. 2023 NewsmaxHealth. Now, they are urging health officials to look into an apparent link between at least 117 reported brain tumor cases some of them fatal among students, staff and faculty who attended or were employed at Colonia High from the 1970s to 2018. NJ High School Cancer Cluster Continues to Perplex Experts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The letter was sent shortly before a news conference with Mayor John E. McCormac and state officials was scheduled on the findings. American Cancer Society medical information is copyrightedmaterial. Board Certified Radiation Oncologists proudly serving Avondale, Chandler, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise, Anthem, Peoria, Fountain Hills, Wickenburg, Apache Junction, Sun City, Goodyear, Sun City West and Tempe, AZ. When considering if a cancer cluster might exist, its important to keep in mind that cancer is common. More than 100 former Colonia High School students and staff over a 30-year period have been diagnosed with cancer and local parents say the information they're getting on the investigation. "We should proceed with a bit of caution," said Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer of the American Cancer Society. Edyta Komorek speaks to "Good Morning America" about her concerns surrounding her New Jersey township's testing following cancer cluster reports. April 09, 2022, 10:00 a.m. WOODBRIDGE TWP., NJ - Testing began Today at Colonia High School due to a cancer cluster of people who have worked, or attended school and are now diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. When childrens health and lives are at stake, we have a right to demand your full attention and transparency. The cancers are a type that is not usually seen in a certain group of people (for example, children getting a cancer usually seen in adults). The Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm is investigating a potential cancer cluster at Colonia High School in Woodbridge, NJ which may be linked to students and staff exposure to radiation on the school grounds over the past five decades., The initial investigation began several weeks ago, when 1989 graduate Al Lupiano rang the alarm bell that there seemed to be an unusual amount of cancer cases among graduates of the high school., Mr. Lupiano was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma on the left side of his brain in 1999. Their commitment to students success is evident in their authentic interactions with students and families, their willingness to try new approaches, and how they collaborate with community partners like College Connect. Hes dying to live, not living to die, she said. The brain tumor cases, appearing over a thirty-year period, are a significant medical mystery that has caused alarm for cancer, brain, tumor, colonia, high school, new jersey, radiation, AT&T DirecTV Censorship of Newsmax Continues, See More Here. State, federal health agencies wait for Woodbridge radiation tests, Case count rises in Colonia High School cancer mystery. All rights reserved. Massimino said he hopes this news gives Colonia students, families, staff members and the community an opportunity to breathe easier. Views expressed by our advertisers and sponsors are their own, and are not endorsed by NJ Spotlight News. The boundaries of the area in which to include cancer cases needs to be defined carefully. There are several cases of a rare type of cancer. Was it a single event or has it been ongoing? We couldnt do what we do without our volunteers and donors. Testing began Today at Colonia High School for Cancer Cluster. Remind: Using the Remind texting platform to invite students to event and to remind students of upcoming deadlines. In fact, there appears to be no panic at this school over the brain tumor reports, no one asking for transfers that Dawn or her son, John, know about. All rights reserved, Nasty Winter Storm Eyes NYC Area: Heavy Rain, 40 MPH Winds, Snow Expected Over 12-Hour Siege, NJ Woman Threatens to Blow Up Home Over Eviction, Then Torches It With 30 Cats Inside: Cops, This 26-Year-Old Pays $0 to Live in a Luxury Tiny Home' She Built for $35,000 in Her Backyard Take a Look Inside. College Connect Tempe offers virtual and in-person workshops and 1:1 appointment. For example, the number of cases might not really be higher than expected once other factors that could explain the increase (such as peoples age, gender, and tobacco use) are taken into account. A combination of Instagram stories, posts featuring the school mascot are used. Environ Health Perspect. It seems like the same thing here, its retroactive rather than proactive, he said, referring to the Colonia case. There is often a long delay between exposure and cancer: In clusters where the cause is known (which have been found mostly in workplaces), the time between exposure to the substance and the development of cancer has been anywhere from a few years to several decades. due to a cancer cluster of people who have worked, or attended school and are now diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. A New Jersey mom is on a mission to uncover more information that could shed light on a possible cancer cluster at her children's high school. If you dont know who to call in your area, the CDC has a list of web links to local and state contacts at .cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/statelocal.htm. Lonser adds that a lot of details are still unknown at this stage. Help us end cancer as we know it,for everyone. Ultimately, if it isnt a radiation source that is causing these illnesses, Lupiano says other tests can be done to pinpoint a cause. As with any random pattern, there will be more cases than expected in some spots, and fewer cases than expected in others. Dozens of former teachers and students have . Not doing it, potentially puts the teachers and students in harms way. Scientists have a specific definition of a cancer cluster. Our team is made up of doctors andoncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing. Promotion of partner events: It's important to also promote other events especially local eventsthat students can attend. Each type of cancer has its own risk factors and causes. COLONIA, N.J. - Radiation tests are being done at Colonia High School in New Jersey after more than 100 people were diagnosed with rare brain tumors. About half of the cases had been determined to be cancerous. These factors need to be taken into account when determining if there are more than the expected number of cancers in a group of people. 2012. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. CORRECTION:The spelling of Lupiano has been corrected throughout this story. We understand that collecting environmental samples and analyzing them takes time, but that is exactly the reason why concurrent sampling of various media and parameters must be done ASAP. Robert Miller The investigation was jumpstarted after it was discovered more 122 people once connected to the. Grad Inks Deal to Bring Free Brain Scans to NJ Community in Cancer Cluster Mystery More than 100 former Colonia High School students and staff over a 30-year period have been diagnosed with cancer Lupiano is also the whistleblower who discovered a possible cancer cluster in graduates and educators from the high school. 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. American Cancer Society. Mark Cuker, an environmental attorney who represented the Toms River families, urged investigators at Colonia to consider all options, not just obvious possible causes, in seeking an explanation for the brain tumors. A quicker investigation by the New Jersey Department of Health and federal agencies could have saved the lives of around 30 children who died from cancer in Toms River in the mid-1990s, advocates say. 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