colonia high school cancer clustercolonia high school cancer cluster

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. 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. Community Partners- Partnerships and volunteers help make our events successful. Jon can be contacted by email at jonhurdle@gmail.com. If theres a hundred, theres probably a heck of a lot more.. Colonia High School in Colonia, New Jersey. Whether you or someone you love has cancer, knowing what to expect can help you cope. Cancer cluster investigations: Review of the past and proposals for the future. "Clearly, there's enough here to move forward with additional testing by the EPA and others to really understand a bit more directly what's happening in the soil and the building materials around the school itself.". "So yes, we're taking this very seriously.". 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. These tumors, no one really knows for sure what causes them. McCormac added that calling it a cancer cluster was "wrong." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define a cancer cluster as "a greater-than-expected number of . In addition, DEPs further review does notindicate sources of environmental exposures of concern to public health. 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. 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). Massimino said he hopes this news gives Colonia students, families, staff members and the community an opportunity to breathe easier. 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. Credit: (Robert Brainz via Flickr/2.0 Generic/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), More cases in Colonia High school suspected cancer cluster, State, federal health agencies wait for Woodbridge radiation tests, Colonia High School graduate suggests cancer cases linked to school. Sometimes a true cancer cluster can be confirmed, and its cause is identified. Accessed at www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/cancer-clusters-fact-sheet on April 29, 2019. They should at least do an initial investigation.. Find Us . Goodman M, Naiman JS, Goodman D, LaKind JS. This should include giving people a realistic idea of what may or may not be found. Joanna Gagis joined the NJ Spotlight News team in 2018. Lunch time or After School FAFSA Lab Sessions. The American Cancer Society is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. 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. "I have full faith they will get to the bottom of this and they will figure out what is going on," Genoni said. . 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). 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). 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. Cancer mystery at NJ school More than 100 people who graduated from Colonia High School have developed brain cancer. Remind: Using the Remind texting platform to invite students to event and to remind students of upcoming deadlines. 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. Anenvironmental assessment was undertakento investigate concerns that the school buildings and grounds contained radiological contaminants that would contribute to diagnoses of brain cancers and other central nervous system tumors or disorders among former alumni, teachers and students. 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. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2013;62(RR-08):1-14. RELATED: Colonia cancer cluster testers to use spring break week to finish data collection Our children and Colonia High School staff deserve more involvement of the State and Federal agencies. Cancer Cluster FAQ. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The parallels are the problems with trying to get exposure to all the organizations to try and get an investigation, he said. due to a cancer cluster of people who have worked, or attended school and are now diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Our goal is to continue moving students through the college application process and to help students reach important scholarship deadlines. 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. The pace and thoroughness of investigations is a topic that Dr. Russell Lonser, chair of the department of neurological surgery at Ohio State University, says is vital. 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. 2008;100(9):614-621. Dozens of former teachers and students have . 2023 NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Advocates urge action to see if brain tumor cases are linked at Woodbridge school. Benowitz S. Busting cancer clusters: Realities often differ from perceptions. When considering if a cancer cluster might exist, its important to keep in mind that cancer is common. Its just very difficult to get something like this off the ground. "It was shock," Al Lupiano, a former student, told "GMA" at the time. This doesnt always mean that there isnt one; it may just be that one cant be found with the methods available at the time. But just what is a cancer cluster? 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). Colonia High School is now the. Look at my son, she said. Together, were making a difference and you can, too. 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. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walks, ACS Center for Diversity in Research Training, Lifetime Risk of Developing or Dying From Cancer, How to Interpret News About Cancer Causes, Cancer Warning Labels Based on California's Proposition 65, https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/cancer-clusters-fact-sheet. 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. 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. (Also see the Additional resources section.). This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. College Connect Tempe offers virtual and in-person workshops and 1:1 appointment. Each type of cancer has its own risk factors and causes. "We should proceed with a bit of caution," said Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer of the American Cancer Society. Cancer Information, Answers, and Hope. Regardless of what the radon analysis and radiological survey reveals, air, water, and soil sampling must be conducted right away. 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. More than 80 people with a cancer diagnosis could be tied to a suspected cancer cluster at the High School. Colonia graduate Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist, was the first to sound the alarm about the potential cluster. Federal investigations take place: An investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency is being done to determine whether these 100-plus cases are a cancer cluster, or simply a coincidence, Fox News reported. Random patterns are the most common reason for a cancer cluster with no identified cause. We couldnt do what we do without our volunteers and donors. 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. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. The investigators might be able to figure out with a fair amount of certainty that there is no true cluster, or that there is a true cluster and its probably caused by a certain exposure. Cancer-Causing Toxins Found in New Tests at NJ School, Mom Says, Raising Concerns Earlier this year, officials claimed that penetrating radar tests on the grounds of Colonia High School. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The Innovative Player award recognizes Arizona high schools throughout the school year for their innovative efforts and work in FAFSA completion. Why has no one attempted to contact the individual who brought the potential cancer cluster to light? But even so, for the most part, cancer cases in the United States are spread randomly across the country. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/about.htm on April 29, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, Kamal said, it's appropriate for authorities to thoroughly investigate higher-than-expected rates of brain tumors in a community. Views expressed by our advertisers and sponsors are their own, and are not endorsed by NJ Spotlight News. Because the school remains open, we demand greater urgency to find out if potentially harmful substances are harming our children and staff at Colonia High School. Suppose you took a map of the United States and started drawing random circles of different sizes in different locations. Note that the definition of a cancer cluster does not include anything about the cancers all having a common cause. But each case began with anecdotal reports of unusually high rates of cancer, and with what community leaders say was then, and is now, a slow response by state and federal health authorities. Think about how hard it would be to test for everything youve been exposed to, even if you knew where to start. 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. Concerns about cancer clusters most often come up in schools, workplaces, and in certain areas of a community. People concerned about a possible cancer cluster can report it to a local or state health department. Jason Wisinski, who lost his wife and sister-in-law, both Colonia High alumnae, to primary malignant brain tumors at the age of 38, became one of many convinced that a cluster a hyperlocal. Read Newsmax Terms and Conditions of Service. 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. 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. 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. Finding the one exposure that could be the cause can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Investigating suspected cancer clusters and responding to community concerns: Guidelines from CDC and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. 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. To report that your child will be absent or late, call the Attendance Hotline: (732) 726-7040 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. For a better-informed future. J Natl Cancer Inst. American. 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. ABC News' Dr. Joy Liu contributed to this report. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/default.htm on April 29, 2019. Our children and Colonia High School staff deserve more involvement of the State and Federal agencies. Just how big should the bulls eye be? Its unlikely that everyone exposed will develop cancer. Tax ID Number: 13-1788491. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. This could take a few more weeks as radon detectors sitting in classrooms collect data. Komorek gathered dust, caulk and soil samples and sent them to outside labs for testing. 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. I think the story has gotten some pretty widespread coverage. Jon Hurdle, a freelance writer who regularly reports on water and other environmental issues, is part of the NJ Spotlight COVID-19 reporting team. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Studying cancer clusters allows scientists to identify areas of increased cancer risk, as well as to try to figure out what is causing the increase in risk. 2012. About half of the cases had been determined to be cancerous. Its very important that government agencies keep members of the community informed from the start of and throughout the investigation. 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. He and his wife, both Colonia High School graduates, were diagnosed with benign brain tumors over a span of twenty years. Targeted Outreach A targeted outreach approach can be very useful. By Maxwell Newman | In conclusion, the results of the radiological investigation at the high schooland grounds are within the normal variation of background radiation levels inNew Jersey and are therefore not indicative of concern over radiologicalexposure to individuals at the site. 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. 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. 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. And can the people who moved away be found? 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 ", Anahi Carvajal, College Connect Advisor, The City of Tempe and our College Connect Tempe program have been partnering with Tempe High to support FAFSA completion for the past 10 years. The counselors, teaching staff and volunteers at THS go above and beyond to meet students and families where they are at. More than 80 people with a cancer diagnosis could be tied to a suspected cancer cluster at the High School. This off the ground are now diagnosed with benign brain tumors in haystack! Right away of twenty years anything about the cancers all having a common.! Why has no one really knows for sure what causes them Guidelines from CDC and the,... 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