Cancer Survivors Against Radon Launches New Campaign to Increase Radon Awareness

    HENDERSONVILLE, NC, August 02, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- August 1st is World Lung Cancer Day 2017. Cancer Survivors Against Radon (CanSAR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through radon awareness, chose this day to announce the launch of a new awareness and fund raising campaign: Women Against Radon (WAR).

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that 222,500 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer and more than 155,000 will die from the disease this year. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined, according to ACS.

Cigarette smoking remains the #1 cause of lung cancer, but the second leading cause is radon exposure, which occurs primarily in the home. Millions of homes, as well as schools, and other buildings are places where radon exposure can occur, resulting in more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States alone.

Angel Price, CanSAR's Associate Director, explains, "CanSAR chose to focus its new campaign on women for several reasons, but the two major reasons are: first, the number of women who are diagnosed with, and who die from, lung cancer has grown significantly in recent years to a predicted 71,280 this year; second, in sheer numbers, as well as in their concern for the health and welfare of their children and their communities, women can - and will - help to win the War Against Radon."

CanSAR is rolling out the WAR campaign by first inviting influential women in the radon industry to join this important campaign and by publicizing the campaign and its goals through social and news media.

"Through our combined resources, we seek to spread the radon message to school officials, healthcare professionals, and mothers and families," says Crystal Lytle, a founding member of the WAR. campaign committee. "Our goal is to enlist as many women to join the cause and fight the war against the effects of radon. Anyone can join and become a 'WARrior'. We invite women and their families to join our cause and connect with dynamic women across the country to save lives. Together, we can make a difference."

Cancer Survivors Against Radon (CanSAR) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing radon-induced lung cancer and saving lives through advocacy, awareness, and outreach.

CanSAR was founded in 2005 by Elizabeth Hoffmann, who was diagnosed with stage IIIA lung cancer in 2003 at age 37. Liz had never smoked, but when her home of over 15 years was tested for radon, the results showed a level more than twice the U.S. EPA's "take action" level of 4 pCi/L. Liz lost her battle with lung cancer in 2013, but her legacy lives on. CanSAR volunteers fight with her mission in mind: "I will do everything I can to help spread the importance of radon testing so no one will hear the words, 'you have cancer [due to radon exposure]'."

CanSAR and our partners have already succeeded in persuading legislators in several states to pass radon awareness bills. It is through the donations from our sponsors, our partners, and concerned citizens, and the hard work of our volunteers, that we are able to continue toward the goal of saving lives through radon awareness. Learn more at CanSAR.org.

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