... continued from previous page.
In most people’s minds lung cancer is “just” a disease of the older, smoking individual. The truth is long term exposure can have an impact on our children and their future lives. In our discussion Dr. Goodarzi talked about the people in their 20’s and 30’s with Stage IV lung cancer who have never “smoked” (note smoking is part of a long list of triggers for lung cancer) and it is in direct relation to Radon exposure at home and in schools, day homes, and other places our children frequent in their formative years.
I asked Dr. Goodarzi what the biggest challenge when dealing with Radon and children.
Adults are the ones who children depend on for a safe and healthy living environment. Parents, caregivers, and guardians can ensure the homes our children live in are safe by testing for radon and managing the levels if they are above the minimum standards. All buildings our children use need to be tested. Testing guidelines, however, remain inconsistent. As an example, Evict Radon worked with Alberta legislators to pass the Alberta Radon Awareness and Testing act in 2017/18. This passed unanimously and received (in Alberta) royal assent. Even though it passed the Act still remains un-proclaimed and the law could simply disappear.
What are we doing for our children and our future. Testing for and managing radon levels is a simple straightforward way to help keep our children safe, both now and into their adulthood.
Do nothing and it could mean our child may not get to live the life they were supposed to. It is so easy to fix. Each child who turns into an adult is a star shining in our universe. What tomorrows are we letting die?
"Everyone can be a pebble that creates the avalanche of change."
Diane MA Colton, Founder
Unmasking the Reality of Lung Cancer Society
Calgary Alberta
###
Diane Colton was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2011, 2012, and 2019, leading her to become a lung cancer patient advocate. Her second diagnosis ignited a passion in her to learn more about lung cancer. Through this, she found that this disease is often diagnosed in those who have never smoked tobacco - which is a common stigma in the lung cancer community. The more she read, the stronger her desire to educate the public became - hoping to be a pebble that would create an avalanche of change. "As an advocate, I [say] 'cancers of the lungs'. It opens the dialogue and questioning and the first question is never did you or do you smoke... It allows for more meaningful conversations and less conversations spent defending ourselves." - Diane Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gm2HnnHP #Lungcancer #Albertacancer
27