Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
When people think of lung cancer, they often think of cigarettes. But did you know radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and one in three Utah homes have dangerous levels?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is abundant in Utah. Park City resident Bill Johnson shared his experience of being diagnosed with stage four non-smoking lung cancer with UtahRadon.org. He hopes his experience will encourage all Utahns to test their homes for radon.
No typical symptoms
After a record-breaking winter, Bill thought he had pulled a muscle in his back from shoveling snow. After months of physical therapy and pain management, Bill eventually became immobile, and an emergency CT scan and MRI showed "wildly metastatic" non-smoking lung cancer that started in his right lung and spread to his brain, spine, and hips.
"I was 43, healthy, an avid mountain biker, skier, trail runner, father of two young boys…I was a little bit shell-shocked, to say the least, that I had this diagnosis," Bill shared. "Having non-smoking lung cancer is detrimental to your health in so many ways…I have to think about my boys growing up without their father because of something that is completely preventable. It's a morbid existence at times."
Lack of awareness in Utah
Prior to his diagnosis, Bill never saw radon as a major concern. He tested his home 14 years ago when he moved, and then it was "out of mind." Though it's unknown if radon caused Bill's specific cancer, it's a well-documented fact that radon is the leading cause of non-smoking lung cancer, especially in states like Utah with such high radon levels.
In Utah, there's a lack of widespread awareness and education about the risks of radon, or even that it exists at all. "If you look at a geological map of Utah from a radon perspective, it's amazing," Bill said, noting shock at how much radon is prevalent throughout the state. To prevent a similar diagnosis in others, Bill is now doing all he can to educate others about the risks of radon exposure.
A false sense of security
People often think that if they test for radon once, they never need to test again. However, that's not the case, and it often leads to a false sense of security. Leading health organizations, including the Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization, recommend testing your home every two years or when any structural change is made.
While testing every two years is essential, testing before summer arrives is also important. This is because radon levels can be up to 58% lower in the summer months. Oftentimes, when someone tests their home for radon in the summer, and it comes back low, they think they are safe, but in reality, they may be breathing much higher radon levels throughout the cooler months. Additionally, if you complete any renovations or your home experiences natural disasters such as earthquakes, you should retest your home at your earliest convenience.
I have to think about my boys growing up without their father because of something that is completely preventable.
–Bill Johnson
Don't just test, monitor
UtahRadon.org offers one free test kit per household. This test kit provides a snapshot of the radon levels in your home and is a good indicator if a radon mitigation system needs to be installed. It can also be helpful to purchase a continuous radon monitor that can be used year-round to measure radon levels. These monitors allow you to see how different factors influence the radon levels in your home, such as temperature and ventilation.
After learning about the link between non-smoking lung cancer and radon, Bill purchased a continuous radon monitor and had a radon mitigation system installed in his home. The radon levels dropped well below the EPA and WHO's mitigation thresholds.
"The message I would like to convey to the entire state of Utah is the importance of monitoring radon. Radon levels change with variables and ventilation, so it's really important to monitor consistently and be aware if those levels shoot high." Bill urged.
Radon-induced lung cancer is completely preventable by testing and monitoring your home. To get a free radon test mailed directly to your home, visit UtahRadon.org.
