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. 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. Ultimately, if it isnt a radiation source that is causing these illnesses, Lupiano says other tests can be done to pinpoint a cause. 2023 NewsmaxHealth. 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. Suspected cancer clusters can be very distressing for those affected by them. 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. But Komorek remains unconvinced, believing there could be other possible causes. In the Colonia case, state and federal agencies are waiting on the results of radiation tests by a private contractor who was hired by the township, said Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac. According to guidelines from the CDC, Theyll need to make sure that the cases are cancer and that they know the specific diagnosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its unlikely that everyone exposed will develop cancer. Note that the definition of a cancer cluster does not include anything about the cancers all having a common cause. 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. "Everybody concluded that there was no need for further testing and that the grounds and the buildings were 100% safe," Woodbridge Township Mayor John E. McCormac said after the investigation. Frankly, until I see boots on the ground, this is nothing more than lip service, he said in a recent interview, referring to the agency involvement so far. There are anecdotal reports of radiation causing tumors, but I think the [root causes] will require more information that finds out what the patients are experiencing. Based on this, most suspected clusters can be determined not to be true clusters, and no further investigation is needed. The Innovative Player award recognizes Arizona high schools throughout the school year for their innovative efforts and work in FAFSA completion. Other TUHSD school also coordinate their own FAFSA and college events where all students in the district are invited to attend. 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. Lunch time or After School FAFSA Lab Sessions. 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. As a Senior Correspondent, her coverage includes education, health care, the environment, New Jersey politics and more. Courtesy Al Lupiano Since March, Lupiano said he has found 107 people who attended. 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. 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. Is Colonia High School the next Toms River? 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. Each type of cancer has its own risk factors and causes. The parallels are the problems with trying to get exposure to all the organizations to try and get an investigation, he said. 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. Why has no one attempted to contact the individual who brought the potential cancer cluster to light? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a cancer cluster is defined as a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occurs within a group of people in a geographic area over a period of time, Early information from the investigation suggests that the students at the high school may have suffered radiation exposure, although such reports are still unconfirmed., Radiological testing has begun at the school. The Woodbridge town council approved two emergency resolutions earlier this . About half of the cases had been determined to be cancerous. 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. Gillick, 73, said the Toms River campaign led to a clean water supply thats closely monitored. Robert Miller The investigation was jumpstarted after it was discovered more 122 people once connected to the. 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. This might not be a satisfactory answer for the people in a community being affected, but it is often the case. Stay with MyCentralJersey.com for updates. Community Partners- Partnerships and volunteers help make our events successful. Radiation exposure is one of the biggest risk factors for brain tumors. 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. Cancer is a group of more than 100 different diseases. Lupiano's sister, also a graduate of the high school, died recently from brain cancer. ), especially if there is concern about a specific type of exposure as a possible cause. You would find that some of the circles would contain more cancers than expected, and some would have fewer. 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. In most cases, an investigation will show that the suspected cluster is not a true cancer cluster. 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. 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. Joanna Gagis joined the NJ Spotlight News team in 2018. College Connect Tempe also enters all student attendees into a $1000 scholarship drawing for attending workshops acting as an incentive for students. 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. About half of the cases had been determined to be cancerous. 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. If not, the health department will probably look into doing a brief investigation and then, if needed, will do a more complete review of the situation. Hes dying to live, not living to die, she said. But just what is a cancer cluster? Of course, its also possible for cancer clusters to occur in communities as well. 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. For example, its rare in children, and becomes more common as people age. @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). We encourage staff and students to wear a college shirt on Thursdays. "So yes, we're taking this very seriously.". 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. "It was shock," Al Lupiano, a former student, told "GMA" at the time. 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. Cancer Clusters. J Natl Cancer Inst. Scientists do their best to piece together the puzzle when there is a cancer cluster, but more times than not, they dont find a likely cause. Testing to begin at Colonia HS after man discovers possible evidence of cancer cluster. Crit Rev Toxicol. Other TUHSD school also coordinate their own FAFSA and college events where all students in the district are invited to attend. Promotion of partner events: It's important to also promote other events especially local eventsthat students can attend. The brain tumor cases, appearing over a thirty-year period, are a significant medical mystery that has caused alarm for experts. The health department will look at the number of cases in the affected area and those nearby to see if there are really more cases than expected. But even so, for the most part, cancer cases in the United States are spread randomly across the country. Support our nonprofit newsroom. All rights reserved. Angela has four daughters who have or will go to Colonia High . Along with the American Cancer Society, other sources of information and support include: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Toll-free number: 1-800-232-4636 Home page:www.cdc.gov Cancer cluster information:www.cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/default.htm Links to state and local health departments:www.cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/statelocal.htm, National Cancer Institute (NCI) Toll-free number: 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) Home page:www.cancer.gov Cancer Clusters Fact Sheet: www.cancer.gov/about-canchttps://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/cancer-clusters-fact-sheeter/causes-prevention/risk/substances/cancer-clusters-fact-sheet, The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team. 2007;115:165-171. Read about the FAFSA best practices that have encouraged the seniors of Independence High School to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). to invite to events, remind of timeline, etc. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Cancer doesnt affect all groups of people equally. The American Cancer Society is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. 2023 NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, The number of people with rare brain tumors has grown to 117. 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. About Cancer Clusters. 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. Jon Hurdle, a freelance writer who regularly reports on water and other environmental issues, is part of the NJ Spotlight COVID-19 reporting team. 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. Weve invested more than $5 billion in cancer research since 1946, all to find more and better treatments, uncover factors that may cause cancer, and improve cancer patients quality of life. Suspected cancer clusters can cause a great deal of concern and confusion in a community. Probe at Colonia High School Looks At Possible Link Between School and Brain Tumors - NBC New York New Jersey Cancer Cluster Probe at NJ HS Underway After 100+ Diagnosed With Brain. [This is] important to investigate as numbers do seem high. 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.. The days that hes in pain, that he cant do what other children do. These areas may have cases that may or may not be related to the others. Random patterns are the most common reason for a cancer cluster with no identified cause. "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.". More cancer cases in the United States are expected in large population centers or in places where the population tends to be older. He rejected claims by community members that health officials are moving too slowly to investigate the possible cancer cluster. "Anytime there's any indication that there could be something on the grounds or in the building of a school, then sure, it's cause for concern," McCormac said. Think about how hard it would be to test for everything youve been exposed to, even if you knew where to start. Suppose a group of people live in a community that has a higher than expected number of cases of a certain type of cancer. Int J Environ Res Public Health. It is not enough to address parents of operating school with suspected cancer cluster through written statements given to media outlets. Despite the number of cases, officials first have to find if there is indeed a connection between the school grounds and the brain tumors. Other agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences (NIEHS), may also help investigate. Its unfortunate, especially when the numbers are there to show that theres something there. 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. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/about.htm on April 29, 2019. 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. You can help reduce your risk of cancer by making healthy choices like eating right, staying active and not smoking. Whether you want to learn about treatment options, get advice on coping with side effects, or have questions about health insurance, were here to help. The Woodbridge town council approved two emergency resolutions earlier this week to begin radiological assessments at the high school, after resident Al Lupiano alerted . 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. All rights reserved. Federal and state health agencies are waiting on the result of tests for radiation at Colonia High School in Woodbridge as officials look for causes of a suspected "cancer cluster" among former students and staff, the town's mayor said Monday. Cancer Facts & Figures 2019.Atlanta, GA, 2019. This petition starter stood up and took action. In many cases, investigators can determine that a cluster of cancers isnt a true cluster. 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