Bill Johnson’s Lung Cancer Crusade: Fighting for a Radon-Free Life

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Bill Johnson’s Lung Cancer Crusade: Fighting for a Radon-Free Life

No matter how healthy your lifestyle might be, you could still be at risk of contracting lung cancer. Even if you exercise, eat a nutritious diet, and refrain from smoking, you could still receive this devastating diagnosis because a deadly colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas called radon silently turns some homes into hazards.

Bill Johnson learned this the hard way. “I deeply regret not fully grasping the severity of radon health risks earlier. Rather than simply conducting a one-time test over a decade ago, I wish I had been consistently monitoring my home for radon to mitigate these dangers,” he says. “Taking proactive steps could have potentially saved me from developing lung cancer. It is my sincere hope that sharing my experience and message will inspire others to prioritize vigilance against radon health risks, encouraging them to initiate radon monitoring before receiving unwelcome news.”

Bill Johnson’s story

A 44-year-old father of two boys, aged 13 and 11, in Park City, Utah, Bill describes himself as having been “very active” and “healthy” before being diagnosed with nonsmoking lung cancer in June 2023. “I was an avid trail runner, skier, and mountain biker,” he explains.

Bill didn’t have any of the typical symptoms of lung cancer, like shortness of breath and persistent coughing, so he found out about his disease in an unexpected way. “I was shoveling my driveway, and I kind of just pulled my back out,” he says.

Bill had some X-rays done, and the doctors initially said it was just a mild case of scoliosis. He never got better, however. “Eventually, my back seized,” he remembers. At that point, he had a CT scan and an MRI.

That’s when the cancer was spotted. “The origin of the diagnosis was in my right lung, but it had metastasized — and they used the words ‘wildly metastasized’ — to my brain down through my spine and into both hips,” he says. 

Radon: A deadly invader

Bill’s cancer came as a tremendous shock. “You start to search for answers on why,” he says. “Knowing that I didn’t smoke, the only thing that you can find consistent data on is that radon is a major cause of lung cancer. ItRadon accounts for 16.5% of all lung cancer deaths.”

Indeed, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, radon is responsible for 21,000 deaths every year, making it the second highest cause of lung cancer fatalities. “Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate is one of the lowest for those with cancer,” the agency reports. “From the time of diagnosis, between 11 and 15 percent of those afflicted will live beyond five years, depending upon demographic factors.”

Radon infiltrates homes regardless of their location. In some parts of the US, however, experts have found that as many as 59.8 percent of residences have dangerous levels of this invisible gas.

Detecting radon

When Bill and his family first moved into their house one summer day 14 years ago, they tested the property for radon. “We just used a little charcoal test kit and put it in for a week, showed that we were safe, tossed it, and [we] never thought about radon again,” he says.

Bill’s cancer diagnosis made him and his family think again, however. “Thankfully, my wife was smart enough to buy the EcoQube,” he says, referring to the award-winning intelligent radon monitor from Ecosense.

Initially, the EcoQube showed very safe levels of radon. It was summer, and Bill’s family kept their windows open, meaning the house was well-ventilated. In the fall, however, temperatures dropped, so they started keeping the windows shut, and the heater began to run. “That’s when I found astonishing levels of radon fluctuating consistently throughout my house,” Bill says.

Bill Johnson’s partnership with Ecosense

Bill has turned his own challenges into a broader mission, becoming an advocate for continuous radon monitoring. “You plug the unit in, it takes up minimal space, and you can download the app,” he explains. “If you want to, [you can] go through those 10-minute intervals of the data and study them, but at the same time, it has a little light on it. When the levels are safe, it’s green. When it’s getting to the scary zone, it will go yellow, and then when it’s bad, it’s red. That little unit can be just around the house. You can walk by and say, ‘Oh hey, the light’s red,’ and immediately start ventilating the house. And that’s when you proactively have to figure out a mitigation plan.”

Bill has also partnered with Ecosense as part of the Radon-Free Campaign, in which the company not only offers a special discount to purchasers but also donates a radon monitor to Park City and Summit County Affordable Housing for every five sold.

Protect your family from radon

Bill wants to spare others the suffering he and his family have faced. “If it can help you not go through the battle that I have to go through every day with lung cancer, then that should be enough,” he says. “It takes everything in my body and mind to wake up with a positive attitude every day and fight this battle.”

By being proactive and installing a continuous radon monitor in your home, you can get the peace of mind of knowing your family is protected.