My stepdad, Rod, was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 57 and sadly passed away within two months of his diagnosis. That period was confusing for everyone since he had lived a very healthy life. I was diagnosed with lung cancer five years later, and that’s when I connected the dots – we had both lived in the same home! 

After my surgery, my doctor inquired about my smoking history, to which I replied that I had never smoked. He also asked about exposure to chemicals, but the answer was a resounding no. Then, he brought up the question of whether I had grown up in a home with radon, a term I had never heard before. This inquiry marked the beginning of my journey.

Through Lung Saskatchewan, I received a test kit and brought it to my childhood home. The new owners kindly agreed to place the kit in the house, and the results indicated high radon levels. This revelation was a big red flag for me. The impact of cancer is immense, and any cancer survivor can attest to the far-reaching effects on one’s life, family, finances, emotions, and physical well-being. I continue to grapple with various physical woes, slowly healing. My husband and I have been profoundly affected as our plans have been disrupted and changed due to my diagnosis of lung cancer. I want people to know about radon so they can be protected from its dangers and lives can be saved.

A NEW CHAPTER | LUNG CANCER SURVIVOR | NEW MOM

Before I had cancer, I honestly believed that living a healthy life kept me safe from lung disease. I remember thinking, “That won’t ever be me.” But cancer changed that. It showed me that danger isn’t always visible, and that sometimes the biggest risks are the ones hiding in the places we trust most, like our homes. Since then, I’ve become much more aware of the silent threats that can quietly affect our health, especially radon. And after becoming a mother, that awareness shifted into something even stronger: a deep instinct to protect. Every choice and every precaution now feels intentional. Having my daughter made me understand that every dollar spent on health and prevention is worth it. I wish I had treated my own health with that same urgency years ago, but today I can do that for my family.

Making sure our home is protected from radon has become one of the most important steps I’ve taken. It’s how I’m making sure my daughter never faces the same fear and uncertainty I once did. Most of us assume lung cancer won’t touch our lives, I felt that way too, right up until my diagnosis. My story is a reminder that lung cancer doesn’t always have a certain “look,” and it doesn’t only come from the causes we expect. If we have the chance to protect the people we love from a preventable cause of lung cancer, we owe it to them to take it. Testing for radon is simple, inexpensive, and one of the most meaningful things we can do to protect our families. Our children breathe the air we provide for them, while they sleep, laugh, cry, and reach for us for comfort. Making sure that air is safe is an act of love.

Just as we rely on smoke-free spaces, carbon monoxide alarms, safe chemical storage, and natural gas precautions, radon safety belongs on that same list of essentials. Radon isn’t dramatic. It’s silent. And that’s exactly why it matters. Protecting our families doesn’t have to be complicated. It starts with awareness, one small test, and the willingness to act before harm occurs. 

HAVE YOU TESTED YOUR HOME?

Radon is a radioactive gas formed by the breakdown of uranium in the soil, water, and rock. You can’t see, taste, or smell radon. All homes have some level of radon, the only way to know the level in your home is to test. Now is the perfect time to test your home! Health Canada recommends that homeowners do a long-term radon test for at least three months during the fall or winter months. 

Testing your home for radon is easy, inexpensive, and can save your life! Learn about radon and purchase your radon test today at HomeRadonTest.ca.