But patience appears to be wearing thin among some in the community, judging by the petition. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor with an incidence rate of 3.19 per 100,000 persons in the United States, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). If you are one of the former students or staff who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, we want to hear from you. Jason Wisinksi lost his wife Janice 10 years ago to an inoperable brain tumor called Anaplastic Astrocytoma. It is a completely safe procedure. On April 10, he recorded the 100th case of someone having a primary brain tumor. Our therapists offer the most advanced care available, helping individuals of all ages successfully recover from strokes, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations, vestibular and balance disorders, diabetic neuropathy and other medical conditions. His sister Angela Decillis. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. Take the survey NOW! Both sisters were graduates of Colonia High School. Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist,. All rights reserved. Sonora High School is a diverse community dedicated to the academic, personal, and social growth of all student learners within a student-centered environment. All three have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. If you were affected or have a tumor or rare cancer, I need your assistance," his Facebook post read. BTF is using a new generation of Swoop portable MRI scanners developed by HyperFine. Diagnostic Neuroradiology Brain Tumors Faculty FY2223 Apply now to Diagnostic Neuroradiology Brain Tumors Faculty FY2223 Job #JPF<br>07794 + Radiological Sciences / David Geffen School Of Medicin / UCLA Position overview Position title:<br> Faculty Application Window Open date:<br> August 19, 2022 Next review date:<br> Monday, Jan 16, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure . A scientist and mother is demanding answers after tests she conducted found cancer-causing toxins and materials were present at the school where more than 100 former students have since been. Jason Wisinski is helping Al Lupiano find people with brain tumors connected to Colonia High School and said "my hope is they will whats causing these issues. The St. Jude Neurosciences Institute is a nationally recognized leader in successfully treating a wide range of neurological conditions. 'It can't be a coincidence': Colonia High School community probes mysterious cancer cases, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. She made it five years," said Jason Wisinski. (The doctor) just looked at me and said, Ive been doing this a long time. Ms. Vercoski can be reached directly at mmv@mccunewright.com. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. McCune Law Group, (MLG) Partner Michele Vercoski is leading the investigation into the link between the diagnoses of a rare brain tumor and former Colonia High School students and staff. Discovery Company. Our sister station WABC-TV has reached out to the EPA for comment. Janice's sister Chery Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. Also in the city are several pre-schools, two Christian schools, and a Catholic school with classes for children from K-8. Updated Apr 17, 2022 at 4:10pm. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. Students living west of Puente to the Brea city limits are served by Fullerton Joint Union High School District and La Habra City School District (K-8). He investigated whether other people who grew up nearby had experienced brain tumors, too. MLG is a national Environmental and Class Action law firm serving the victims of environmental and corporate negligence across the country. Nearby is California State University at Fullerton as well as Fullerton Community College. Hiswife Michele, a 1991 Colonia High School graduate, had a large acoustic neuroma on her left side, which is life-threatening if left untreated. WOODBRIDGE -In less than two months, former township resident Al Lupiano has developed a list of more than 100 people linked to Colonia High School who have been diagnosed with primary brain tumors. 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. 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 MLGs office in Newark, New Jersey. The Brea Olinda Unified School District operates six elementary schools, one junior high school, one high school, and one alternative high school. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The information on this website is for general information purposes only. After doing some research, Al Lupiano told TODAY that he discovered 107 former . If you are an alumni or staff member of Colonia High School and have developed a brain tumor, contact MLG today! Obviously, everyone's praying and hoping for the best," said Colonia High School junior Julia Pagnozzi. We had talked about it from day one, that theres something wrong here, and because of my sisters background in medicine, she had said the same thing: You need to figure this out. In the meantime, Lupiano would like to see additional testing started right away. Gov. Al Lupiano, a 1989 Colonia High School graduate and DeCillis' brother-in-law, notified the community in March about his belief in a possible link between radiation at the school and brain tumors . I had been struggling for several weeks after she passed away, trying to figure out what to do, Al Lupiano said. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. New residents seeking information on elementary, junior and senior high schools, or adult education should call the School District Office at 714-990-7800. Lupiano's sister, Angela died on February 17 from Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Also in the city are several pre-schools, two Christian schools, and a Catholic school with classes for children from K-8. 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. Our nationally respected neurological rehabilitation programs include inpatientand outpatientsettings. Sinceearly March, Lupiano, a 1989 Colonia High School graduate, has identified 117 students, teachers and staff members with primary brain tumors, as well as 78 students and staff with rare or curious cancers. DeCillis started showing stroke-like symptoms and went to the hospital in August 2021. appreciated. You have to find out whats doing this. 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.". All rights reserved. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Ms. Vercoski is a tireless advocate that has gotten justice and great results for her clients. If students and staff are being subjected to harmful environmental exposures at Colonia High School, swift and urgent action must be taken to protect the future health of the students and staff. 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. "We absolutely have concerns, the Democrat told NJ.com. 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. "The nurses thought (she) was my sister-in-law because she was the one with the tumor. As expressions of God's healing love, witnessed through the ministry of Jesus, we are steadfast in serving all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable. By specializing in this frequently overlooked sleep disorder, we offer the clinical knowledge to fully evaluate and accurately identify the cause, as well as create the most effective, personalized treatment. 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. When Al Lupiano investigated why he, his wife and his sister had brain tumors, he told TODAY he uncovered more people with them who went to or worked at the high school. His wife and sister found out on the same day last August - two hours apart. 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. Parents like Dawn Genoni are willing to wait for those results -- at least at the time Genoni spoke to News 4 last month. Frequently, in hazmat, you never find it in the first shot," Lupiano said. 100 PEOPLE WITH RARE TUMORS WHO ATTENDED SAME NEW JERSEY HIGH SCHOOL DEMAND ANSWERS The 110 people that Lupiano has counted on his list of former Colonia High School graduates have been. "We're just going to wait to find out. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Reports claim that more than 60 former students and staff of Colonia High School have been diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called glioblastoma. Academic Saturday School, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM Learn more about personalized stroke services, treatments and services. Former Colonia High School student Al Lupiano first decided to investigate when both his wife and his sister were diagnosed with brain tumors, two decades after he himself had suffered. One review of 576 cancer cluster investigations over 20 years published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology found only 72 actually had increased rates of cancer. We bring together more than a dozen specialties, life-saving research and a relentless commitment to advancing patient outcomes, giving our patients the very best opportunity to recover and heal. "My wife fought like crazy. "The agencies acknowledged their concerns regarding the potential cancer cluster, but are not conducting any testing aside from radiation and radon that the Township undertook, even though the school remains open. Earlier this year, 1989 Colonia High School graduate Al Lupiano developed a list of more than 120 people who were students, teachers or staff members at the school from the 1970s to 1990s. Our Approach. Optune: this nonsurgical, electrical-frequency therapy disrupts glioblastoma cancer cell growth, representing the first advancement in outcomes for this cancer in over a decade. Additionally, alumni and staff need to know what is causing these brain tumors in order to protect themselves and monitor their health carefully. 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. 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. When Al Lupiano then revealed that his sister had glioblastoma, the doctor began peppering him with questions about what the three had in common, he recalled. "If we can enrich science by showing that an unknown compound is in high concentration and link it to primary brain tumors, maybe we can protect others, remove it from our environment to make sure it never happens again," he said. "We have to know whatwe've found so far, if anything, before we test for the next level," McCormac said. For information about local community college classes, call Fullerton Community College at 714-992-7000. NHS Weekly Meeting, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM If requested, BTF can refer the patient to a qualified medical specialist for further investigation and treatment. She really started going downhill, Al Lupiano said. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Its just extremely rare. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. "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," the petition says in seeking the involvement of more state and federal agencies. Hers was positive for an acoustic neuroma, also on the left side, also 30 millimeters, exactly the same as I had. Its just like both of you being struck by lightning." Air, waterand soil samples need to be taken to rule out the possibility of additional contaminants that may be acting synergistically," Lupiano said in a statement Tuesday. It turned out that it was not benign, but it was a malignant glioblastoma, a very very aggressive cancer, he explained. But wed love to be able to rule out the school., Since March, Lupiano said he has found 107 people who attended or worked at the school who have primary brain tumors. At the time, medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. Theres some statistical analysis that has to get done, Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society, told TODAY. The rarity of three family members being diagnosed with brain tumors revealed the high school as a possible common link. Lupiano said, adding his doctor encouraged him to investigate the concentration of tumors in the town where he grew up. After nearly 100 people who attended the same New Jersey high school developed rare brain tumors, an alumnus and cancer survivor is demanding answers. It was the same type of tumor Lupiano was . Colonia High School . 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. Sonora High School encourages students to become life-long learners and contributing members of an ever-changing world. 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.. Affected or have a tumor or rare cancer, colonia high school brain tumor need your assistance, '' jason! 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