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Mr. Tony Renda, a well-known construction-industry contractor and philanthropist in Montreal, took on a tough adversary and defeated lung cancer. Follow his example and get involved in the lung cancer campaign by making a research donation.
Cancer ! Lung cancer! I never saw that one coming! Sure, I’d been coughing a lot, but that didn’t mean I had lung cancer... October 2004, I’ll never forget the moment when my doctor delivered the personal death sentence, as if I’d been condemned to the gas chamber! The cancer tumor is the size of an orange and growing right next to my heart. In three months I’ll be dead. They tell me to draw up my will, and to put my affairs in order. I’m married and have five children between the ages of 9 and 21... One doctor even told my spouse to make my funeral arrangements. I then contacted four other doctors who pronounced the same verdict. And that’s when I decided to stand up and fight!
I began by submitting to a series of treatments. Over a period of three and a half months, I underwent chemotherapy, followed by a thirty-five-day period of radiation treatment. I grew weak and no longer had any antibodies, but I persisted because I refused to let the cancer get the upper hand.
In addition to traditional medicine, I followed the advice of a naturopath and changed my eating habits, focusing strictly on healthy antioxidant-rich foods. I also took vitamin C every day. Prior to my illness, I had begun to develop my own spirituality, and this trial prompted me re-evaluate my entire lifestyle. I had to make some choices. During my therapy, my mind would wander and I would dream of creating a small paradise for myself here on earth. As a result, I began erecting a greenhouse that is now full of trees and flowers. I also planted fruit trees on my property, and expanded my vegetable garden. I dream of it all year round, working the soil in the summer and spending the winter thinking about what to add the following spring. I also resolved to work less and delegate in order to better enjoy my family and friends. My attitude towards people also changed: I am much more flexible, forgiving, and willing to serve others.
In March 2005, I made an appointment with an American oncologist specializing in lung cancer. I underwent a battery of tests, x-rays and scans, the results of which indicated that my life was essentially over. Once more, my heart and mind refused to give up. While continuing to see my doctor regularly, I began a more natural form of parallel treatment, and each month, the blood test results improved. In 2006, my oncologist could not believe his eyes and after ordering more tests, concluded that I had gone into remission!
Needless to say, since then I am making the most of my new lease on life. I am in great shape and can dance for three or four hours straight. I am firmly convinced that my heart has proven to be my best doctor.
RADON IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER IN NON-SMOKERS.
Does the term radon mean anything to you? Radon is a radioactive gas produced naturally by the decay of uranium in the ground. Once it has escaped into the open air, it no longer poses a threat, but radon can seep into houses and other buildings through cracks that are in contact with the ground: cracks in the foundation, construction seams, gaps around service pipes, sumps, etc. In such confined spaces, radon can accumulate at levels that are hazardous to human health.
10% OF LUNG CANCERS ARE CAUSED BY RADON. IT IS THE SECOND CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER AND THE LEADING CAUSE AMONG NON-SMOKERS.
When inhaled over a period of many years, radon can become trapped in the lungs where the radioactive particles may end up damaging cells and causing lung cancer. It is estimated that in 2006, 1,900 Canadians died of lung cancer due to radon exposure. A considerable risk in general, it is even worse for smokers. For an individual with a lifelong habit of smoking without being exposed to radon, the probability of developing lung cancer is one out of eight. Exposure to high levels of radon raises the risk to one out of three! In comparison, a non-smoker exposed to the same high levels of radon has a one-in-twenty chance of developing lung cancer during his/her lifetime.
PROTECT YOUR FAMILY, PERFORM A RADON DETECTION TEST.
Because this gas is colourless and odourless, the only way to obtain a realistic estimate of radon levels in your home is to measure them (your home’s age and the results obtained in surrounding homes are not good indicators).
MEASURING RADON IS SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE.
For less than $100, a variety of private measuring services exist, and measuring devices are available in department stores. Basically, testing requires the installation of a measuring device in a room occupied more than four (4) hours a day and located on the lowest level of your home (ideally, a basement bedroom or recreation room). Since radon concentrations vary depending on the season, Health Canada recommends taking measurements over a period of at least three months, preferably in winter (when windows are closed).
If radon levels are excessively high, there are solutions for reducing them. This may involve increasing ventilation, sealing cracks and other holes, or aerating beneath the concrete slab. As each building is different, retaining the services of a qualified contractor is preferable.
Would you like to know more about lung cancer’s impact in Quebec ?
According to 2008 statistics, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in Canada, and this applied equally to men and women. Quebec alone accounts for 31% of all deaths linked to lung cancer in this country. That is enormous!
We have therefore established correlations between the number of deaths per year and Quebec’s city or municipal populations. This parallel highlights the magnitude of the disease.
