Is Colonia High School the next Toms River? It seems like the same thing here, its retroactive rather than proactive, he said, referring to the Colonia case. WOODBRIDGE An extensive field investigation that included assessing Colonia High School classrooms, building materials and the 28-acre East Street campus found no radiological hazards that warrant further investigation, an environmental assessment determined. The boundaries of the area in which to include cancer cases needs to be defined carefully. When childrens health and lives are at stake, we have a right to demand your full attention and transparency. "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. When considering if a cancer cluster might exist, its important to keep in mind that cancer is common. 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. Accessed at www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/cancer-clusters-fact-sheet on April 29, 2019. Cancer is a group of more than 100 different diseases. Support our nonprofit newsroom. 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. Despite the number of cases, officials first have to find if there is indeed a connection between the school grounds and the brain tumors. She declined to say how much money her family received. The City of Woodbridge, NJ is investigating, with Mayor John McCormac telling NBC4 that One hundred out of 15,000 have brain cancersure sounds like something we should be concerned about.. Lupiano, his wife and his sister are among those affected. [This is] important to investigate as numbers do seem high. Think about how hard it would be to test for everything youve been exposed to, even if you knew where to start. What were hearing anecdotally is alarming, and it may be after doing a scientific analysis that it turns out its not technically a cluster but its sufficiently alarming that they should do a full-scale evaluation to determine that.. They should at least do an initial investigation.. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/about.htm on April 29, 2019. 2008;100(9):614-621. WOODBRIDGE TWP., NJ - Testing began Today at Colonia High School. 2007;115:165-171. College Connect Tempe, University/ community college representatives supported our events providing additional FAFSA experts and college tabling/information. Cancer doesnt affect all groups of people equally. Often theres a concern that the cancers might be caused by some type of carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) in the environment. As a Senior Correspondent, her coverage includes education, health care, the environment, New Jersey politics and more. Sometimes a true cancer cluster can be confirmed, and its cause is identified. But Al Lupiano, a former Colonia student who published the growing list of brain tumor victims, said the agencies are still not acting quickly enough. some factors that do not support the need for further investigation include: If the health department feels that the potential cluster should be studied further, they will collect more information. That approach, he said, led to the identification of a chemical that no one had ever heard of as the cause of many cancer cases in Toms River. 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. The American Cancer Society offers programs and services to help you during and after cancer treatment. @tempe_high_counseling, College Knowing and Going partnership - student ambassadors serve as college-going role models and help with the marketing of student events (creating posters, posting on social media). allegations the school had radiological hazards that may have contributed to diagnoses of brain tumors, cancers and other central nervous disorders in former students and staff members, 'It can't be a coincidence': Colonia High School community probes mysterious cancer cases, Location sought for brain scans in wake of alleged cancer cluster tied to Colonia High School, Colonia High School cancer probe catches NJ Department of Health attention, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Possible cancer clusters tend to get a lot of attention in the news and other forms of media. If the excess cases of cancer dont seem to be random, they might need to be looked at more closely to find out if they might have a common cause. It might also include collecting and testing samples from the environment (air, soil, drinking water, etc. If theres a hundred, theres probably a heck of a lot more.. Promotion of partner events: It's important to also promote other events especially local eventsthat students can attend. Support our nonprofit newsroom. Targeted Outreach A targeted outreach approach can be very useful. 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. Stay with MyCentralJersey.com for updates. Workplace exposures may be more likely to cause cancer because the level of exposure can be higher and might last longer than in other settings. Suppose you took a map of the United States and started drawing random circles of different sizes in different locations. Moving the boundaries (for example, to make the area larger or smaller) might make it look more or less likely that a cancer cluster exists. The information presented on this website is not intended as specific medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical treatment or diagnosis. Community Partners- Partnerships and volunteers help make our events successful. Edyta Komorek, an environmental scientist, told "Good Morning America" she was concerned her township was not doing enough to address concerns -- so she launched her own study. For example, there are several types of leukemia, and its important to know which type each person has. College Connect Tempe also enters all student attendees into a $1000 scholarship drawing for attending workshops acting as an incentive for students. 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. NJ High School Cancer Cluster Continues to Perplex Experts. Joanna Gagis joined the NJ Spotlight News team in 2018. 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. 2018. The brain tumor cases, appearing over a thirty-year period, are a significant medical mystery that has caused alarm for experts. Testing paid for by Woodbridge is now well underway, as an increasingly large affected community waits and hopes for answers. If there is a potential cause, investigators first have to figure out when these people were exposed to it. Will you do the same? The boundaries of the cluster area can be hard to define: Defining the geographic cluster area is not always as clear-cut as one might think it would be. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2012. The time period is also important when looking for the possible causes of a cluster. 1:44. 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. A part of the campus is named for Pat Barbato - a longtime football coach . 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. 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. He and his wife, both Colonia High School graduates, were diagnosed with benign brain tumors over a span of twenty years. Jon can be contacted by email at jonhurdle@gmail.com. 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.. Komorek gathered dust, caulk and soil samples and sent them to outside labs for testing. Earlier:'It can't be a coincidence': Colonia High School community probes mysterious cancer cases, Earlier:Location sought for brain scans in wake of alleged cancer cluster tied to Colonia High School, Earlier:Colonia High School cancer probe catches NJ Department of Health attention. to invite to events, remind of timeline, etc. The assessment was conducted by T&M Associates, a consulting, engineering, environmental and technical services management company and Cabrera Services, a radiological and environmental remediation company which collected dates and conducted testing. Not doing it, potentially puts the teachers and students in harms way. Al Lupiano, a 1989 graduate of the school, has identified 65 Colonia High graduates, including himself and two other members of his family, who have been diagnosed with an extremely rare brain cancer. Of course, its also possible for cancer clusters to occur in communities as well. The brain tumor cases, appearing over a thirty-year period, are a significant medical mystery that has caused alarm for experts. J Natl Cancer Inst. A combination of Instagram stories, posts featuring the school mascot are used. Superintendent of Schools Joseph Massimino announced the findings Thursday in a letter to township families, following allegations the school had radiological hazards that may have contributed to diagnoses of brain tumors, cancers and other central nervous disorders in former students and staff members. "I would tell residents to trust the process here," Kamal told ABC News. In addition, DEPs further review does notindicate sources of environmental exposures of concern to public health. In many cases, investigators can determine that a cluster of cancers isnt a true 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). American Cancer Society. Cancer Clusters. 2012. Help us end cancer as we know it,for everyone. Int J Environ Res Public Health. Benowitz S. Busting cancer clusters: Realities often differ from perceptions. Other agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences (NIEHS), may also help investigate. Cancer clusters in the USA: What do the last twenty years of state and federal investigations tell us? We and our children deserve more! Colonia High School 180 East Street Colonia, NJ 07067 Phone: 732-499-6500 Fax: 732-574-2575. 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. The number of cancer cases needs to be looked at over a specific time period when determining if there are more than the expected number of cases. 2012;42(6):474-490. You can help reduce your risk of cancer by making healthy choices like eating right, staying active and not smoking. RELATED: Colonia cancer cluster testers to use spring break week to finish data collection 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. The type(s) of cancer seen is also important. But in many cases, even when it seems there is a cluster, a single cause cant be found. 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. 2023 NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Advocates urge action to see if brain tumor cases are linked at Woodbridge school. There are several cases of a rare type of cancer. The Woodbridge town council approved two emergency resolutions earlier this . In most cases, an investigation will show that the suspected cluster is not a true cancer cluster. According to guidelines from the CDC, At that point, steps can be taken to address it. NEW JERSEY - A New Jersey man has uncovered a medical mystery. Advocates for an official investigation into fears of a "cancer cluster" at the Middlesex County high school say there are parallels to the notorious water system contamination in the Ocean County town that was blamed for more than 130 cases of childhood cancer in the 1990s. Should it include only the local neighborhood where most of the cases were found? Less often, an investigation finds a true cancer cluster, but no cause can be found. 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 diagnosed amongst former students and staff. 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. 2700 N. Central Ave. Suite 400 | Phoenix, AZ 85004 Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? American. Officials in Woodbridge Township, where Colonia is located, opened an investigation but said they found no significant radiation at the high school building. Those three compounds are known or are probable carcinogens," Komorek said. National Center for Environmental Health, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia. Here you'll find in-depth information on specific cancer types including risk factors, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment options. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/default.htm on April 29, 2019. 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. 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. His wife, a member of the class of 1999, was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor in 2021 on the same day as Mr. Lupianos sister, Angela, who also graduated from the high school., After Angela passed away, Mr. Lupiano vowed to get answers as to what was making this community ill., Since then, at least 100 graduates from the classes of 1972 through 2000 have come forward with information regarding their extremely rare malignant brain tumors, including glioblastomas, and inexplicable cancer diagnoses.. But just what is a cancer cluster? Testing began Today at Colonia High School for Cancer Cluster. Investigators might have a few clear leads or starting points for common exposures among affected people, but they need to look at all the possibilities. 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. Some of the circles with more cases might be clusters that have a single cause, but most would be due to chance. Testing to begin at Colonia HS after man discovers possible evidence of cancer cluster. By making classroom visits students obtain the tools they need to start completing tasks like exploring colleges, careers, scheduling appointments with college representatives: Thursdays - college T-shirt Spirit Day! Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. and 'What is the likelihood that a sister of me and my wife can have a brain tumor at the same time?'". 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. Our children and Colonia High School staff deserve more involvement of the State and Federal agencies. The letter was sent shortly before a news conference with Mayor John E. McCormac and state officials was scheduled on the findings. T: (602) 229-2500 | F: (602) 229-2555, 2700 N. Central Ave. Suite 400 | Phoenix, AZ 85004, Academic Affairs and Educational Attainment, Arizona Board of Regents' Committee on Free Expression, Information for HS Counselors and Principals, Western Interstate Commission for HIgher Education (WICHE), Feb. 16th - THS Parent Teacher Conferences and THS For the Love of Money FAFSA Night also 9 12 graders invited for College/ Career planning cookies will be served, week of Aug. 29, 2022 all senior English classes first presentation (College Apps, FSA ID, Maia Learning tool), Week of Sept. 26 all senior English classes 2, Oct. 17 and 18 FAFSA days at THS college and community partners on campus all day for 1:1 FAFSA follow ups, Week of Sept. 15 thru Sept. 22 all Junior English class presentations Maia Learning tool pre-College and FAFSA. Colonia graduate Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist, was the first to sound the alarm about the potential cluster. Angela has four daughters who have or will go to Colonia High . Apr 07, 2022, 9:05pm Updated on Apr 08, . A more in-depth investigation might include getting more thorough medical histories from affected people, as well as testing blood or other body fluid samples from both affected and non-affected people. Accordingly, no further testing or remediation is required or recommended atthis time," New Jersey Department of Environmental Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said in the letter. Radiation exposure is one of the biggest risk factors for brain tumors. As soon as they found this goop was in the water, they immediately shut down those wells, and from that day on the rate of childhood cancer in Toms River began to decline, he said. Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. This could take a few more weeks as radon detectors sitting in classrooms collect data. Lupiano is also the whistleblower who discovered a possible cancer cluster in graduates and educators from the high school. Experts are now investigating whether there is a cancer cluster emerging from this school. Look at my son, she said. Rarely, an investigation finds a cancer cluster where the cause can be determined. Hes dying to live, not living to die, she said. Note that the definition of a cancer cluster does not include anything about the cancers all having a common cause. All rights reserved. Crit Rev Toxicol. This is why the links between cancer and many cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) are often first found in studies of workers. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. The Woodbridge town council approved two emergency resolutions earlier this week to begin radiological assessments at the school after resident Al Lupiano alerted the mayor that there could be hazardous material on the grounds of Colonia High. "So yes, we're taking this very seriously.". 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