Can You Get Lung Cancer From Your Basement? Non-Smoking Woman’s Stage Four Lung Cancer Caused By Radon, An Invisible Gas

It’s important to note that smoking may be the No. 1 cause of lung cancer deaths in the U.S., but radon is the second leading cause. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), approximately one in 15 homes across the U.S. have unsafe, high amount of radon levels.

Speaking to local news station KSL-TV, Robbins said, “They did some tests and found a brain tumor. I thought they were crazy, just totally crazy. I’d always been so healthy.”

She didn’t think radon could be an issue until her doctor inquired whether her home had been tested for the gas.

Robbins noted her doctor asked her about testing for radon levels in her home after she had begun radiation therapy and started on a chemotherapy pill.

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She also warned. “It’s preventable. You can do something about it and mitigation doesn’t cost near what cancer costs.” ”

In an earlier interview with EcoSense, a company that makes radon monitors, Robbins explained how feeling sick while using a treadmill and experiencing trouble with her memory led her to reveal she had brain tumors, linked to advanced lung cancer. Otherwise she had no other symptoms.

She admitted to the company that she never expected to have radon exposure. Her home had radon levels of 31.3 pCi/L, which is the same as smoking three packs of cigarettes daily.

Robbins continued, “I was so mad. How is it possible that I wasn’t aware of radon … a silent and invisible threat that can give rise to serious health issues when you least expect it to pose any danger?”

“I’ve just learned that even though our home was mitigated, we still don’t know if we are safe unless we have continuous monitoring in place,” Robbins, whose brain tumor started out in her left lung, added.

Understanding Where Radon Comes From

Radon, odorless and invisible, originates from elements found in rocks and soil. Roughly 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year originate from radon exposure, according to the American Cancer Society. 

This type of gas can enter homes through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations, and collect indoors. It can also be released from building materials, or from water obtained from wells that contain radon, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

As per the NCI, Radon levels can be higher in homes that are well insulated, tightly sealed, and/or built on soil rich in the elements uranium, thorium, and radium. Basement and first floors typically have the highest radon levels because of their closeness to the ground.

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Radon decays quickly, giving off tiny radioactive particles, the NCI says. When inhaled, they can damage the cells that line the lung. Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer, the only cancer proven to be associated with inhaling radon.

Preventing Exposure

The first step to preventing dangerous exposure to radon is determining whether you’re being exposed to it in the first place.

Kevin Stewart, director of environmental health for the American Lung Association, previously told SurvivorNet there is no known “perfectly safe” level of exposure to radon.

He also told us, “Like lung cancer caused by tobacco smoking, lung cancer caused by exposure to high levels of radon is preventable.”

The American Lung Association recommends taking action if the levels are anywhere above 2 pCi/L.4 picocuries of radon per liter of air (a picocurie is a measure of the rate of radioactive decay of radon), while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends taking action if the radon levels present in the lowest floor of your home exceed the national radon action level of 4 pCi/L.

Tips On Keeping Safe

Step One: Determine if You’re Being Exposed

“Testing is inexpensive and easy to do,” says Stewart. Radon testing kits are available at many hardware stores if you’d prefer to conduct the test yourself, but most states have programs through which you can hire a credentialed radon service provider.

The EPA lists two nationally-recognized resources for hiring someone to test (and fix) your home the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) and the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB), though there are many others available.

Step Two: Make Necessary Repairs

“If testing confirms that radon levels are high, then mitigation (repairs) should be done,” says Stewart. “In nearly all cases, fixing a radon problem in a home is a simple and straightforward process, and it’s similar in cost to other home repairs or appliances.”

Repairs might include installing a vent pipe and fan in your home, for instance, which works by pulling radon from beneath your house and redirecting it to the outside.

According to the American Cancer Society, there are also ways to treat your water supply especially if you get your water from a private well — so that radon is removed from the water before it enters your home. If your water comes from a public supply, you may have less direct control, but suppliers are required to take the proper precautions to mitigate radon exposure. If you’re concerned that there may be radon in your public water supply, the best thing to do is to contact your supplier.

Step Three: Avoid Smoking

Although exposure to high levels of radon gas can increase lung cancer risks in both smokers and non-smokers alike, the American Cancer Society points out that the combination of radon exposure and smoking can contribute to an even greater risk.

Step Four: Talk to Your Doctor About Screening

There isn’t an established test that can tell you whether your body has been exposed to radon. Having said that, if you expect that you’ve been exposed to high levels of radon and you are experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, persistent coughing, or tightness in your chest, your doctor may recommend you get screened for lung cancer. Pay attention to your body, and always loop your doctor in if something doesn’t feel right.

RELATED: Why Is This Still Happening? 20 Percent of Americans Are Still Exposed to Secondhand Smoke At Work, New Study Says

Understanding Lung Cancer

Lung cancer forms when cancer cells develop in the tissues of the lung. It is the second most common form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the U.S., SurvivorNet experts say. It’s “completely asymptomatic,” thoracic surgeon-in-chief at Temple University Health System Dr. Joseph Friedberg, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.

“It causes no issues until it has spread somewhere. So, if it spreads to the bones, it may cause pain. If it spreads to the brain, it may cause something not subtle, like a seizure,” Dr. Friedberg adds.

WATCH: Detecting lung cancer in the absence of symptoms.

Scans such as X-rays can help doctors determine if a shadow appears, which can prompt further testing for lung cancer.

Lung cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms until it has already spread outside the lungs, according to SurvivorNet’s experts.

There are two main types of lung cancer, which doctors group together based on how they act and how they’re treated:

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type and makes up about 85% of cases.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common, but it tends to grow faster than NSCLC and is treated very differently.

Some people with lung cancer may experience symptoms such as:

• A cough that doesn’t go away, that gets worse, or that brings up bloody phlegm
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Chest pain
• Hoarse voice
• Appetite loss
• Weight loss

If you are experiencing these kinds of symptoms consistently, contact your doctor for further tests.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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