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JAMA Oncology recently released a Patient Page called Understanding Lung Cancer in Younger People as a public service for lung cancer awareness. In this article, they discussed the rise in lung cancer diagnoses and the causes of the disease—which includes a radioactive gas commonly found in Utah.
Radon is a radioactive gas that rises out of the soil when uranium breaks down. Utah is full of uranium, which means Utah is also full of radon! It’s not very dangerous when it rises into outdoor air, but it is incredibly dangerous when it rises into homes and gets trapped inside.
Radon can seep into buildings through tiny pores in the foundation, and it doesn’t matter how old your house is—any home can have a high radon level. When someone inside breathes in radon for a long period of time, the DNA in their lungs changes, and they can develop diseases like lung cancer and leukemia.
According to JAMA, lung cancer is usually diagnosed around age 71, and it’s considered young-onset lung cancer when a patient is under 50 years old. Over recent years, there has been an increase in this younger age group receiving lung cancer diagnoses, and many are non-smokers.
While smoking is a common cause of lung cancer, radon is the leading cause in non-smokers. Even more, the symptoms of lung cancer often fly under the radar because they can be mild until the disease progresses to stage three or four.
Young people are often not screened for lung cancer due to their age and perceived lack of risk, and lung cancer symptoms can mimic allergies or the common cold in the early stages. As it progresses, a patient may experience chest pain, coughing, unexpected weight loss, and other symptoms. If you have any concern about your lung health, and especially if you have been exposed to high levels of radon, you should consult with your healthcare provider.
Young adults, and especially those who are renters, need to be aware of their radon exposure. It’s a common misconception that property management and landlords take every precaution for environmental hazards, but that’s not always true, especially in Utah where there are no laws requiring regular radon testing when renting or buying a home.
All Uthans, regardless of if they rent or own, can receive a free radon test by filling out the form on this page. Additionally, it’s important to test your home for radon every other year, alternating between summer and winter. If your home tests high, a simple mitigation system can be installed to reduce the radon to a safer level. If your landlord or property manager is resistant to testing or installing a mitigation system, we have countless resources you can share with them about the dangers of radon exposure.
21,000 people die annually from radon-induced lung cancer, but with your help, we can spread awareness and reduce preventable illnesses and deaths.
