Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
Family and community members came together on Sunday, Sept. 7 to celebrate the life of Connie Alexakos, an adoring mother, loving grandmother and passionate radon awareness advocate in Utah.
Connie was diagnosed with non-smoking lung cancer at 75 years old after being exposed to radon gas in her home.
What started as "allergies" eventually led to a CT scan that showed metastasized cancer in her lungs, bones, and liver. After a year on medication, her cancer eventually spread to her brain.
Her son, Ted, was floored when he learned of her diagnosis and assumed it might be caused by harmful chemicals in food, or something environmental.
He was right about the environment —a common radioactive gas in Utah was the culprit.
My grandkids lived in a house that tested at 26.0 pCi/L. People think radon won't affect them, but it could, and then it is too late
–Connie Alexakos
The gas every Utahn needs to know about
Radon is a naturally occurring gas that rises out of the ground when uranium breaks down.
It can rise into homes through tiny pores in the foundation and concentrate in the air, where it is then breathed unknowingly.
It doesn't matter how new or old your house is; every home is susceptible to high radon levels.
In fact, nearly 50% of Utah homes have a dangerous concentration of radon.
The good news is that testing is simple. Utahns can order a free radon test kit, making it easy to find out if your family is at risk.
Connie's story is not uncommon since our senses can't detect radon, and many people learn about radon for the first time after receiving a stage three or four lung cancer diagnosis.
Cancer impacts patients both emotionally and financially, and lung cancer treatment is no different. One of the most common treatments for non-smoking lung cancer can cost $16,000 per month.
Connie's dedication to advocacy
From the time she was diagnosed until she passed, Connie was passionate about educating the public about radon exposure. "If I'd known about [my diagnosis] at stage one, it could have been a much, much easier way to treat it," Connie shared. "I wished I had known that it was so prevalent in Utah."
Connie joined the UtahRadon.org advisory board to raise awareness and continued to talk about radon in her daily life.
She also urged the community to think about the impact radon has on their loved ones.
"My grandkids lived in a house that was mitigated after eight years of living there. They were at 26 [pCi/L] before mitigation. People think it won't affect them, but it could, and then it is too late," said Connie.
Leading health organizations recommend mitigation (the process of installing a permanent system in your home that redirects radon to the outside air) starting between 2.0 and 4.0 pCi/L.
Connie shared her experience with the media, including KSL, Townlift Park City News, KCPW radio, her community, and anyone who would listen.
She pleaded with homeowners to test their homes for radon and, if necessary, mitigate the home.
One of her desires was to participate in the upcoming Utah Legislative session to petition for mandatory radon testing during real estate transactions. While that wish cannot come true, her willingness to share her story has saved countless lives in Utah.
What you can do to celebrate Connie's legacy
Connie's legacy lives on through action. Her greatest wish was that every Utah home be tested for radon.
To help make that possible, UtahRadon.org covers the cost of one free test kit for each household.
Testing only takes a few days, and it could prevent the kind of diagnosis that changed Connie's life. Please join us in honoring her life by testing your home.
