Lung
I’ll give you my strength if I can have your remission - John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
Every year, thousands of people die of lung cancer. The majority of lung cancer cases are linked to cigarette smoking and exposure to occupational carcinogens such as asbestos. Yet, there are non-smokers who still develop lung cancer.
According to the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA), a gas called radon is “the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among non-smokers in America and claims about the lives of about 20,000 Americans each year." On a global scale, radon is estimated to cause 3 to 14% of all lung cancers.
Radon levels differ from place to place. Several countries including the UK, Canada and the U.S. have extensive information on ‘radon zones’. The U.S. EPA has come up with 3 distinct radon zones with zone 1 having the lowest radon levels whereas in Zones 2 and 3 there are literally thousands of individual homes with elevated radon levels.
The danger comes when radon accumulates to toxic levels. Levels are higher indoors than outdoors and may accumulate inside buildings, including our homes, offices and schools.. Because radon is heavier than air, it usually accumulates in the lower levels of a building, such as the basement or cellar. Aside from normal air exchange, cracks in the foundation or basement of buildings, drains, sumps, and pores in building materials may be the point of entry of radon from rock or soil.
Ironically, newer buildings may actually be more prone to high radon levels because of better isolation used for energy efficiency. And, there are even reports that our beautiful granite counters may be a major source of radon in our homes – who knew?
The U.S. Surgeon General, Health Canada, and UK Radon all recommend that homes be tested for radon. When it comes to radon exposure your government agencies are right on the money! Instead of being worried about airport full body scanners and pat-downs, perhaps we ought to be paying more attention to ensuring that our homes are as safe as possible!
RADON - The Hidden Environmental HazardRadon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Instead of being worried about airport scanners and pat-downs, perhaps we ought to be paying more attention to ensuring that our homes are as safe as possible!
Asbestos News | Exposure InformationAsbestos News was created to provide readers with the most important and up-to-date information on asbestos-related issues including risk factors, diseases such as mesothelioma, statistics, and more.
British Lung Foundation | Smokefree UK We focus our resources on providing support for people affected by lung disease today; and work in a variety of ways, including funding world-class research, to bring about positive change, to improve treatment, care and support for people affected by lung disease now and in the future.
CancerConsultants.com | Oncology Resource CenterUnderstanding treatment options, accessing new and innovative therapies through clinical trials, as well as understanding the role of supportive care and complementary and alternative medicine are essential.
CancerHelp.org | Cancer Research UKThis section of CancerHelp UK is about lung cancer (cancer of the bronchus or bronchial cancer). It includes symptoms and causes, tests for lung cancer, treatment, living with lung cancer, and current research.
CDC | Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCDC has a number of programs for preventing and controlling lung cancer, which kills more people than any other type of cancer. Research continues to look for better ways to prevent and control lung cancer.
LivingWithIt.org | Lung CancerLearn about the different types of lung cancer, how lung cancer is diagnosed and staged, and how it is treated. The more you know, the better prepared you may be to make decisions about your health.
Lung Cancer Focus | Taking a New Look at Lung CancerA web site dedicated to advancing the treatment and care of all stages of lung cancer. Our international team of lung cancer experts will do their best to provide the over 300,000 people living with lung cancer everything they need to know about their disease.
Lung Cancer Online | Information for Patients The mission of The Lung Cancer Online Foundation (LCOF) is to improve the quality of care and quality of life for people with lung cancer by funding lung cancer research and providing information to patients and families.
LungCancer.org | A Program of CancerCARE We provide free, professional support services to anyone affected by lung cancer. Services include counseling, education, financial assistance and practical help, are provided by trained oncology social workers and are completely free of charge.
MARF | Mesothelioma Applied Research FoundationThe Meso Foundation is the non-profit collaboration of patients and families, physicians, advocates, and researchers dedicated to eradicating the life-ending and vicious effects of mesothelioma.
Memorial Sloan-Ketterng | Cancer CenterIn this section, you will find information about our experience treating patients with lung cancer, along with details on the services we offer our lung cancer patients and our related research activities.
Mesolink.org | Your Link to Mesothelioma ResourcesWe strive to provide the most complete overview of the disease and all aspects of it. This includes general information on the disease, breaking news on the search for a cure and perspective legislation designed to limit you as well as all other news on the subject.
Mesothelioma News | Baron & BuddMesothelioma News is dedicated to bringing you comprehensive information on a full range of topics about mesothelioma, including treatment, support, and legal help.
NCI | National Cancer InstituteInformation about lung cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and vaccine therapy
Tarceva erlotinib | for Non-Small Cell Lung CancerTarceva is a targeted cancer treatment. Unlike many other traditional chemotherapies, Tarceva affects certain cell activities. Tarceva is designed to block tumor cell growth by targeting the protein in your body called the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 1.
TheCancer.info | Pulmonary MalignanciesThe diagnosis of lung cancer or other pulmonary malignancies bring with them many questions and a need for clear, understandable answers. We hope this website will help.
USNews.com | Cancer CenterLung cancer is the most common type of cancer in both men and women. It is estimated that more than 172,000 cases of lung cancer were diagnosed in the United States in 2005.
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