Dana Reeve's lung cancer diagnosis and death this week has
shocked a nation, and prompted active community conversations about the causes of lung cancer. Reeve was not a smoker,
but she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Christine
Stewart was not a smoker, but she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Both women in the prime of their life at the time
of lung cancer diagnosis. The shock of Reeve's lung cancer death has been eye-opening for many people, because the
perception has always been that lung cancer is a smoker's disease. While it is true, the majority of lung cancer
diagnosis can be linked to cigarette smoking, a noticeable percentage of lung cancer diagnosis result from other
causes. Non-smokers contract lung cancer from a variety of sources, including asbestos, air pollution and radon gas. The Invisible Cause
of Cancer may surprise you, exposes the hidden dangers of radon exposure in the home. Radon, an invisible, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil and rocks, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, with an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Radon seeps through the ground and into buildings, and is a major source of indoor air pollution.
"Sadly, it takes her (Dana Reeve) death, coming just seven months after diagnosis, and the fact she never smoked, to let the public see the real picture of lung cancer which they are not getting from the public health establishment. Lung cancer continues to be portrayed as a self-induced cancer that does not deserve public research funding," said Laurie Fenton, president of the Lung Cancer Alliance. "Yes, smoking is the biggest single factor in lung cancer and cessation is still the frontline approach. But, we cannot pretend that smoking cessation alone will end lung cancer which continues to be the biggest single cancer killer. We must look at the disease in its entirety."
Communities across this country are talking about lung cancer, how anyone can at danger for lung cancer, and how to take lung cancer prevention measures, such as testing for radon in the home, a lung cancer risk not associated with cigarette smoking. Because, what became clear for the public this week, is that, even if you are not a smoker, you are still at risk of a lung cancer diagnosis. If it could happen to Dana Reeve, it can happen to anyone.
