Doctors gave her about 18 months to live, but she survived five years and saw her daughter grow up some. 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. Academic Achievement Awards, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM All Rights Reserved. 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. 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). 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 have full faith they will get to the bottom of this and they will figure out what is going on," she said at the time. At the time, the medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. Mystery as 100 people. 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. Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (714-256-1311) has a campus located at 251 South Randolph Street in Brea. 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. The HyperFine MRI unit enables greater flexibility and ease of access to patients than the previous practice of bringing a 72-foot tractor-trailer housing a standard sized mobile MRI to a screening location. Discovery Company. Glioblastoma can cause numerous symptoms that can affect and impair daily life. 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. That, the "concerned Colonia High School parents, alumni, and township members" petitioning on behalf of their school community say, isn't acceptable. All three were diagnosed with a brain tumor. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. It was the same type of tumor Lupiano was diagnosed with in 1999 when he was 27. Your opinion matters! Even if the brain tumor is not technically cancer, it can grow and become life-threatening if left untreated. That conversation inspired Al Lupiano to do some research. Sonora High School is a diverse community dedicated to the academic, personal, and social growth of all student learners within a student-centered environment. "It might feel like it is more prevalent than it actually is.". 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. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano. Working closely with patients referring neurologists, our therapists use advanced rehabilitation tools and techniques to help patients optimize their movement and function. The doctor told us that it is extremely rare for a husband and wife to both have brain tumors. They learned of their tumors eight days apart. WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. 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. A single New Jersey man has uncovered a medical mystery apparently linking 100 people diagnosed with rare cancers or tumors to a Woodbridge high school. NHS Weekly Meeting, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Janice was pregnant with her and Jason's only child. Around the same time, Michele Lupiano was experiencing some hearing loss and balance problems. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. His wife. On March 7, he posted a page on social media looking for others from Colonia High School with brain tumors. It hit home with my wife that (she) needed to see a doctor and see whats going on, Al Lupiano said. By Thanksgiving, DeCillis' cognitive abilities deteriorated. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. She made it five years," said Jason Wisinski. Soon after Lupiano posted his page, Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormac received phone calls about the group and reached out to Lupiano. He was diagnosed 20 years ago. 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. A scan revealed that she had a tumor on the left side of the brain that was 30 millimeters. Along with MLGs PHDs in Public Health, Ms. Vercoski will be investigating this case out of the firms Newark office. When a former student at Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, realized that he, his wife and his sister all had brain tumors, he wondered if something about their high school could have caused them. (TODAY has not confirmed each individual case.) It is a completely safe procedure. A Warner Bros. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. "Theyve tested the interior of the school to tile to the concrete, you name it, McCormac added. The township dedicated funds to hire an environmental engineering firm to start various tests at Colonia High School for possible contaminants in and around the school. On Feb. 17, Angela died from Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM. "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," said Lupiano. Lupiano, who has a 30-year background in environmental science and safety engineering, never anticipatedthe list of cases growing so long. While that may sound like a high number, determining if a group of cases constitute a cancer cluster can be difficult. Football Booster Club Meeting, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM Facebook Colonia High School. Wisinski lost his wife, Janice 10 years ago to an inoperable brain tumor called Anaplastic Astrocytoma. Football Junior High Strength Camp, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Its just like both of you being struck by lightning." Reports claim that more than 60 former students and staff of Colonia High School have been diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called glioblastoma. Band Spaghetti Fundraiser. Helping students achieve and persist One learner at a time. 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. 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. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. "I dont know that we know enough yet to be definitive in terms of causation, et cetera.". The district is bounded on the north by the Orange / Los Angeles counties' line, on the east by San Bernardino and Riverside counties, on the west by Puente Avenue, and on the South by the City of Fullerton. WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. Black died in 2015, three years after her sister, when her cancer recurred. Amber's Story - Brain Aneurysm. The St. Jude Sleep Centerbrings unusual expertise to the most common and undiagnosed sleep problem in America today: sleep apnea. The free brain scans were pursued by Al Lupiano, a Colonia High School graduate who began researching a possible link between brain tumors and the high school following the February. Pre-Schools & Private Schools. Earlier:'It can't be a coincidence': Colonia High School community probes mysterious cancer cases. 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. His wife Michele, a 1991 Colonia High School graduate, had a large acoustic neuroma on her left side, which is life-threatening if left untreated. New residents seeking information on elementary, junior and senior high schools, or adult education should call the School District Office at 714-990-7800. Hers was positive for an acoustic neuroma, also on the left side, also 30 millimeters, exactly the same as I had. 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. For Lupiano, the concern is very personal. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I was highly motivated to keep moving forward.. ", "If there are any potential environmental exposure pathways identified and a need for further environmental sampling, the state Health Department will work cooperatively with (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to conduct a public health assessment and evaluate the potential for health effects," the statement continued. If we catch a tumor before the patient becomes symptomatic, the health outcome is almost always better, saidDr. Michael Schulder, president of BTF and vice chair of neurosurgery at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He promised her he would find out the reason for the family's brain tumors. 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. 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. After his sister's death in February, Lupiano became convinced of a link between the Colonia. Also in the city are several pre-schools, two Christian schools, and a Catholic school with classes for children from K-8. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He was successfully treated for it, though he has lingering side effects, including slight deafness, fatigue and dizziness. 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. 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. I dont know if I have ever had another husband and wife who have an acoustic neuroma. A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. 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 . 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. 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. Eyewitness News has reached out to them, and are waiting to hear back. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. The physical, occupational and speech therapists in our outpatient neurorehabilitationprogram provide skilled, experienced support for people with movement disorders. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. After nearly 100 people who attended the same New Jersey high school developed rare brain tumors, an alumnus and cancer survivor is demanding answers. 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. "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. His research was prompted after both his wife and sister, both Colonia High School graduates, were diagnosed with brain tumors on the same day in August 2021. 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. Advanced Neurological Care. 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. Higher Education ALSO READ | Man who spotted subway shooting suspect Frank R. James, flagged down officers speaks out, * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts, AccuWeather: AM showers before a mild afternoon, Extra Time: Breaking down massive NYC, NYPD settlement, Teammate facing charges in crash that killed local UGA player. 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. He found a total of 104 former students and faculty - about half are cancerous. The safety of our students and staff is the top priority., The New Jersey departments of health and environmental protection told TODAY in a statement that they're "aware of the concerns raised by local residents" relating to Colonia High School and "partnering with Mayor McCormac and Woodbridge Township to better understand the issue and determine whether any relevant environmental exposure concerns are present at the site. "I had recalled two family friends, the Black sisters, had also passed of these brain tumors," Lupiano said. A cluster of over 100 rare brain tumors in the past 30 years sparks a health inspection at Colonia High School in New Jersey. He emphasized that there's no need for residents in the community to go get emergency cancer imaging scans immediately. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. 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