When Bonnie Norris was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2022, she was shocked.
She had never smoked. She stayed active. She ate well. Lung cancer was the last thing she expected to hear from her doctor. It also led her to learn about radon, a risk factor that’s often overlooked.
On World Lung Cancer Day, Bonnie is sharing her story to help raise awareness about lung cancer and the importance of testing for radon.
An unexpected diagnosis
In the summer of 2022, Bonnie was playing pickleball when she injured her knee. During a visit to her doctor, she mentioned that she had also been experiencing vertigo and night sweats.
Her doctor was concerned about the night sweats and ordered a CT scan. The results changed her life. Bonnie was diagnosed with lung cancer and it had spread to her lymph nodes.
“I thought to myself, ‘That's impossible – I'm not smoking, and I lead a healthy life.’ I had gone on a complete whole food, plant-based diet two years earlier and I thought I was doing everything right. It really rocked my world.”
Starting treatment with a strong support system
Bonnie began treatment right away, completing 30 days of chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumour. After that, she completed a 12-month course of immunotherapy.
Throughout treatment, she leaned on the people around her. Her husband, daughters and friends stepped in to help with meals and emotional support.
My husband was amazing. Between him and my daughters, they completely took care of making meals and cleaning.
Bonnie also found strength in watching one of her daughters manage serious health challenges of her own.
“One of my daughter’s has her own health issues. She's had kidney disease all her life and been on dialysis. It gave me strength to see that, if she can deal with something life-threatening her whole life, that I would be able to go through this too. I found a lot of strength in her.”
Connecting with others on CancerConnection.ca
As Bonnie searched for information about her diagnosis, she discovered CancerConnection.ca, the Canadian Cancer Society’s online peer support community.
At first, reading about other people’s experiences felt overwhelming. But over time, she began connecting with members who understood what she was going through. Those connections became an important source of support.
“All the people on CancerConnection.ca, you feel very close to them. They become more than just members on the site; you actually become friends with them.”
Bonnie became an active member of the community, and in 2024, she started volunteering as a moderator. She now helps connect others with support and resources.
We can't go through cancer by ourselves. CancerConnection.ca has shown me just how many people are suffering in silence.
Learning about radon
After her diagnosis, Bonnie went to a radon awareness event at her local library. It was the first time she learned about radon and the health risks it can pose.
Radon is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas found naturally in the environment. It is the leading risk factor for lung cancer in people who don’t smoke.
"The two main causes they’ve found for lung cancer are smoking and radon. It's like a bomb that's just waiting to explode; I don’t think people realize that radon is the number one cause of death among lung cancers aside from smoking.”
Bonnie decided to test her home, and the results showed high levels of radon.
Learning that she may have been exposed to radon for years inspired Bonnie to start talking about it with others.
While she cannot know exactly what caused her cancer, she wants more people to understand the risks and consider testing their homes.
Radon has become kind of personal for me. I think the shock of realizing that people aren't aware of the risks that are around them, like radon, stuck with me.
Today, Bonnie is planning a community information session to help raise awareness about radon and its connection to lung cancer.
“We can't live in a bubble, but I think we need to be more aware of the cancer risks around us.”
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Transforming the future of lung cancer in Canada
Today, Bonnie has responded well to treatment. She is back exercising and continues to enjoy painting and gardening.
Her story is an important reminder that lung cancer doesn’t only affect people who smoke. It also highlights why coordinated action is needed to improve awareness, reduce risk factors and help more people get diagnosed and treated earlier.
That’s why with the help of our partners, we’ve developed the 2026-2035 Pan-Canadian Lung Cancer Action Plan – a bold, ambitious national roadmap to reduce lung cancer deaths by 30% over the next decade.
Together, we can transform the future of lung cancer in Canada.