Elizabeth Speight was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017 after having neck and chest pain. (Spectrum News 1/Estephany Escobar)
By Estephany Escobar North Carolina
UPDATED 9:30 PM ET Jan. 31, 2023 PUBLISHED 7:30 PM ET Jan. 31, 2023 https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2023/02/01/radon-awareness-month
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A non-smoker diagnosed with lung cancer is raising awareness about the dangers of radon.
What You Need To Know
January is Radon Action Month
Radon, a radioactive gas, is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers
Elizabeth Speight, a non-smoker diagnosed with lung cancer, doesn't know if radon was the culprit of her disease
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends testing your home for radon every two years
Radon is a radioactive gas naturally released from rocks, soil and water. It can get inside your home through small cracks or holes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, breathing in high radon levels can cause lung cancer.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. In addition, Radon is responsible for 21,000 deaths every year and 2,900 of these deaths are among people who have never smoked.
Elizabeth Speight was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017 after having neck and chest
pain at work.
“When I finished my shift, I was a nurse anesthetist, I went to the emergency room and they found a mass growing out of my lung. It
was attached to my heart,” Speight said.
Woman living with lung cancer raises awareness about radon
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