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. Some types of cancer are more common in men than in women (and vice versa), and some are more common in certain racial or ethnic groups, or in people with other shared characteristics (such as a history of tobacco use). Jon can be contacted by email at jonhurdle@gmail.com. Scientists have a specific definition of a cancer cluster. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This doesnt always mean that there isnt one; it may just be that one cant be found with the methods available at the time. Facebook Colonia High School A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. Workplace exposures can also be easier to identify because the group of exposed people is better defined and easier to trace as compared to groups in the community. And how many children have I buried? Even though Colonia may not yet meet the scientific definition of a cancer cluster, Cuker said that should not stop officials investigating what he called an astounding number of reported brain tumor cases. There are reports of radiation causing these tumors at the high school, and as far as environmental exposure, radiation is the most common one, but it is still relatively low. But just what is a cancer cluster? There is a larger than expected number of a specific type of cancer (or types of cancer that are known to have a common cause). Testing began Today at Colonia High School for Cancer Cluster. In addition, DEPs further review does notindicate sources of environmental exposures of concern to public health. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. 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. We can also help you find other free or low-cost resources available. Toms River started anecdotally and then when the scientists looked at the numbers they found a cluster, he said. This is only one of many, many tests that can be performed. At that point, steps can be taken to address it. Note that the definition of a cancer cluster does not include anything about the cancers all having a common cause. The Innovative Player award recognizes Arizona high schools throughout the school year for their innovative efforts and work in FAFSA completion. You can help reduce your risk of cancer by making healthy choices like eating right, staying active and not smoking. Gillick, 73, said the Toms River campaign led to a clean water supply thats closely monitored. Lupiano, who is also an environmental scientist, and his wife Michelle-- both graduates of the high school -- were diagnosed with benign brain tumors 20 years apart. Exposures are very unlikely to cause cancers right away. At the American Cancer Society, we have a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. As far as a common link between these tumors, a driver mutation, there is not one thread for sure., Attenello adds the news of a cancer cluster at Colonia High School has spread quickly throughout the medical community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definesa cancer cluster as one where there is a greater number of cancer cases than would normally be expected; where the same type of cancer is found, and where the affected population is defined by factors such as race, age or gender, among other factors. 1:44. Well over a million new cancers are diagnosed every year in the United States alone, and nearly 4 out of 10 people in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Its very important that government agencies keep members of the community informed from the start of and throughout the investigation. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Al Lupiano first sent public nearly two months ago about concerns of a cancer cluster related to Colonia High School. Cancer Clusters. (Also see the Additional resources section.). Crit Rev Toxicol. He and his wife, both Colonia High School graduates, were diagnosed with benign brain tumors over a span of twenty years. At the same time, there may be people who were not exposed who develop the same cancer by chance. 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). Robert Miller The investigation was jumpstarted after it was discovered more 122 people once connected to the. In April, Colonia High School in Colonia, New Jersey, made national headlines after more than 100 former students and staff reported online that they had been diagnosed with brain tumors, in a period that spanned across three decades. To do this, they might contact patients or relatives or look at medical records. Suppose a group of people live in a community that has a higher than expected number of cases of a certain type of cancer. Frequently, in hazmat, you never find it in the first shot," Lupiano said. Cancer Cluster FAQ. College Knowledge Lab and workshop invites: Lunch time and After School open labs are created for students completing any college/career going task (FAFSA, college applications, resumes), "Incredible community, very friendly, and have many ways to break down the steps of applying., Very fun and helpful staff; very deserving of this,, It has been a wonderful experience working with the students of Tempe High School and I cant wait to see what they continue to accomplish. 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. In 1999, at age 27, he was diagnosed with a large, benign brain tumor. [This is] important to investigate as numbers do seem high. There are very few direct causes to the types of brain tumors we are talking about., Dr. Frank Attenello, assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, tells Newsmax that he is similarly baffled. 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. They should at least do an initial investigation.. Angela has four daughters who have or will go to Colonia High . They should let the authorities know that they want answers because without the public outcry there is not going to be the pressure thats needed to make this right, she said. The counselors, teaching staff and volunteers at THS go above and beyond to meet students and families where they are at. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Cancer Clusters. Not everyone who is exposed is likely to develop cancer: To make things even more tricky, some people might be more or less likely to get cancer after being exposed to something, based on their genes. When you have as many as theyre saying they have, its going to take so long for the government to finally verify it, said Linda Gillick, who led community calls for an official investigation of the Toms River cases starting in the late 1980s. The type(s) and number of cancers involved, Any suspected exposure(s) that might cause cancer, The area and time period in which the cases occurred, Specific information about each person thought to be affected, Specific information about the cancers themselves, Cancer cases within family members who are blood relatives (especially cancers known to be strongly genetically linked), Different types of cancers that are not known to be related to one another, A few cases of very common cancers, particularly when the people affected are of the usual age and sex for those cancers, Cancers among people who didnt live in the same area at the time an exposure would have to had taken place to cause that cancer. Whether you or someone you love has cancer, knowing what to expect can help you cope. NJ High School Cancer Cluster Continues to Perplex Experts. The number of people with rare brain tumors who either attended or worked at Colonia High School in Woodbridge has grown to 117, according to Al Lupiano who has been conducting his own research into a suspected cancer cluster. True cancer clusters rarely involve more than one type of cancer. 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. Joanna Gagis joined the NJ Spotlight News team in 2018. Because of this, it might be important to see if the people affected by the cancer shared some common exposure in the past (and not necessarily the present). Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 2023 www.mycentraljersey.com. Will you do the same? It might also include collecting and testing samples from the environment (air, soil, drinking water, etc. All rights reserved. Even if statistics show that it may be a true cluster, its important to know that its very rare that a cause is found. After some digging, a man who attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, discovered more than 100 former students and staff members had been diagnosed with the same sort of brain tumor diagnosed in his wife, his sister and himself. Gillick, who founded and still chairs the Citizens Action Committee on Childhood Cancer Cluster, rejected arguments by some health experts that there isnt enough evidence so far to label Colonia a cancer cluster a designation that is rarely upheld by public health authorities despite there being many sites suspected of meeting the definition. "I think that air testing should be done immediately to determine whether or not there are hazardous levels of those chemicals in the indoor air," Komorek said. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Student text messaging through College Connect Remind texting platform(?) About Cancer Clusters. The health department also looked at brain cancer rates for Colonia High School and compared them to rates of brain cancer throughout New Jersey and the United States. To see if there is a greater number of cancers than expected, the number of cases seen needs to be compared to what would typically be seen in a similar group of people such as a group with the same age, gender, and ethnicity. The number of patients affected in a localized area are higher than what we would expect. Cancer.org is provided courtesy of the Leo and Gloria Rosen family. I think what theyll have to do is go through a ton of info that includes the tumor types and any potential risk factors identified with those individuals. I am thrilled that this dynamic and dedicated team is being highlighted for their efforts!, Mary Mezey, Supervisor, City of Tempe Office of Education, Career & Family Services, 2023 Arizona Board of Regents Privacy Policy | Terms of Use, ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS More cancer cases in the United States are expected in large population centers or in places where the population tends to be older. 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 . Its unlikely that everyone exposed will develop cancer. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) define a cancer cluster as a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occurs within a group of people in a defined geographic area over a specific period of time. For example: McClintocks Dia de los Muertos FAFSA event was promoted to our students at Tempe High as well. About half of the cases had been determined to be cancerous. Often theres a concern that the cancers might be caused by some type of carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) in the environment. We and our children deserve more! Sometimes a true cancer cluster can be confirmed, and its cause is identified. He has also lost the sight in one eye, and is hearing-impaired, but is smart and funny, with a strong will to live. Other agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences (NIEHS), may also help investigate. ), especially if there is concern about a specific type of exposure as a possible cause. The time period is also important when looking for the possible causes of a cluster. But Komorek remains unconvinced, believing there could be other possible causes. 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. For more complex or urgent situations, the health department might also call in experts from the CDC or other federal agencies to help do a more in-depth investigation. The type(s) of cancer seen is also important. "I would tell residents to trust the process here," Kamal told ABC News. Was it 5 years ago? "The results of the study identified four compounds: polychlorinated biphenyls and three pesticides -- chlordane, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide. Become a volunteer, make a tax-deductible donation, or participate in a fundraising event to help us save lives. Lupiano is also the whistleblower who discovered a possible cancer cluster in graduates and educators from the high school. Parents like Dawn Genoni are willing to wait for those results. People may become concerned that theres a cancer cluster in their community if they believe there is a higher than normal number of cancers in the area. Please reach out to Ilana Wolk, Esq. National Cancer Institute. "Every inch of Colonia High School 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 . 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. If there is a potential cause, investigators first have to figure out when these people were exposed to it. Its just very difficult to get something like this off the ground. The letter was sent shortly before a news conference with Mayor John E. McCormac and state officials was scheduled on the findings. Our children and Colonia High School staff deserve more involvement of the State and Federal agencies. Collections of cancers that dont meet all parts of this definition are much less likely to be true cancer clusters. 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. You would find that some of the circles would contain more cancers than expected, and some would have fewer. We're improving the lives of cancer patients and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. In many cases, investigators can determine that a cluster of cancers isnt a true cluster. WOODBRIDGE TWP., NJ - Testing began Today at Colonia High School. CORRECTION:The spelling of Lupiano has been corrected throughout this story. "This is only the tip of the iceberg. Radiation exposure is one of the biggest risk factors for brain tumors. College Connect Tempe offers virtual and in-person workshops and 1:1 appointment. Procedures vary by state, but most health departments will first ask for information, such as: When a cancer cluster is reported, the health department will first review the initial information provided. Our College Advisors sent passes out to students and invitations for 1:1 and group events based on data gathered from AZ College Connect FAFSA dashboard (partial matches, incompletes, not started), data from ASU, U of A, NAU, and GCU admit reports (FAFSA status), GPA lists (who should do FAFSA to meet university priority deadlines such as UA Assurance and ASU Obama). NEW JERSEY - A New Jersey man has uncovered a medical mystery. Environ Health Perspect. Theyll need to make sure that the cases are cancer and that they know the specific diagnosis. Other TUHSD school also coordinate their own FAFSA and college events where all students in the district are invited to attend. The longer ago this was, the harder this might be to determine. More than 80 people with a cancer diagnosis could be tied to a suspected cancer cluster at the High School. Despite the number of cases, officials first have to find if there is indeed a connection between the school grounds and the brain tumors. I think the story has gotten some pretty widespread coverage. There are 3 main possible outcomes from a cancer cluster investigation: To help illustrate this point, in a scientific review of over 500 cancer cluster investigations done over 20 years, only about 1 in 8 found a true increase in cancer rates, and in only one case was a clear cause for the increase found. College Connect Tempe offers virtual and in-person workshops and 1:1 appointment. Finding the one exposure that could be the cause can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. 2007;115:165-171. 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