Radon Awareness and Early Detection: A Dual Approach to Lung Cancer

Premier Pulse     December 2025 Dec 5, 2025

Satheesh K. Kathula, MDBy Satheesh Kathula, MD FACP, DipABLM; and Stephanie Hisey MS, APRN, AGCNS-BC, OCN, system oncology clinical nurse specialist

Lung cancer isn’t just a smoker’s disease. Many patients we see have never smoked yet still develop lung cancer—often due to radon exposure, or air pollution. Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that infiltrates homes and buildings, especially basements, posing a significant, preventable risk. Radon causes thousands of deaths each year, and most homes have never been tested. Because exposure produces no symptoms, patients often feel healthy until a mass is detected—frequently at an advanced stage. Routine home testing and mitigation remain critical tools to prevent radon-induced lung cancer.

Complementing prevention, Premier Health’s Lung Nodule Evaluation Program, launched in 2022, offers structured, APP-led, multidisciplinary care for patients with lung nodules. Low Dose CT (LDCT) screening is recommended for smokers with more than 20 pack year history, starting at the age of 50 if they haven’t quit within the last 15 years.  Coordinated closely with pulmonologists and oncologists, the program ensures timely evaluation, follow-up, and intervention.

Since its inception, LDCT screenings have increased 94%, while late-stage (Stage III–IV) diagnoses have declined. Providers benefit from a clear, standardized pathway for managing nodules, reducing variability, and optimizing guideline adherence. Patients receive coordinated, high-value care designed to detect disease early and improve outcomes. 

By combining prevention through radon awareness with structured early detection via the Lung Nodule Program, clinicians can significantly reduce lung cancer mortality. Awareness, timely evaluation, and multidisciplinary coordination are key: catching disease early—or preventing it entirely—saves lives.

For more information on our Lung Nodule Evaluation Program, please call (937) 208-9050(937) 208-9050. 

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