Levine Cancer Institute Radiation Oncologist Dr. John Heinzerling encourages people to test their homes for radon beyond buying a new home.
“All of us have radon in our homes. There’s always some level or rate of radon, unfortunately that we can’t get rid of, but we want to lower that to levels that shouldn’t put us at higher risk than we want to be,” Heinzerling said.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
During the month of January, which is Radon Action Month, Speight is checking radon levels in her home with free kits from the government. The state of North Carolina also gave away free kits during January.
For the test she leaves radon gas detectors in different locations of her house for 48 hours and then mails them for testing.
“You want this for your family, you want this for your health," Speight said.
Speight is mindful of her health. In 2017, doctors told her she may only live 120 days. However, thanks to a drug trial she’s participated in, she’s had five extra years with her loved ones.
Speight said the daily pills she’s taking are keeping her cancer under control.
“Three weddings, my mother’s 95th birthday, celebrating my 30th wedding anniversary, those are memories I cherish every day,” Speight said.
The EPA recommends to test your home for radon every two years.
According to EPA maps, eight counties in western North Carolina, including Buncombe and Watauga counties are most likely to have higher indoor radon levels.
However, regardless of designation, the agency recommends all homes to be tested.
If you have high radon levels at your home, there are mitigation systems that can help
you reduce that amount.
Speight was shocked at the diagnosis because she had never smoked.
Speight doesn’t know if radon was the culprit of her disease. She lived in some locations that had high levels of radon and moved around the country several times when serving in the military.
The veteran is raising awareness about the dangers of Radon with the Dusty Joy Foundation. The nonprofit organization advances education, early detection and compassion for people impacted by lung cancer.
“Twenty-one thousand people, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, die from radon-induced lung cancer,” Dusty Joy Foundation Executive Director Dusty Donaldson said. “Look at the all lives we can save, if we educate people about radon. It’s easy and inexpensive to test your home for radon, and it’s relatively inexpensive to test your home from radon.”
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