Introduction
“Indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air, and most of us spend 90% of our lives inside.”
When I first heard that statistic, it hit me hard. I was already dealing with a stage IV cancer diagnosis, facing tumours and test results that felt like death sentences. My attention was on chemotherapy, off-label drugs, and metabolic therapies. Those were the clear battles.
But, then I realised something: if the air I breathed (and the water I drank – but I’ll cover that one in a different post) at home was harming me, I was fighting with one hand tied behind my back.
I couldn’t change the traffic outside. I couldn’t control the industrial pollution drifting in from elsewhere. But I could control the air inside my home – the air I breathed for 90% of my life.
So I did.
Why Air Quality Matters
We often picture air pollution as smoggy skylines or crowded city streets. However, the hidden pollution in our homes can be even worse.
Sources of indoor air pollution include:
– Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from paint, cleaning products, and furniture.
– Dust, allergens, and mould spores.
– Cooking fumes and by-products from burning fuel.
– Pet dander and tiny particles that stick around long after you’ve noticed them.
For someone with a compromised body – and, in my case, my oesophagus under attack – this wasn’t just background noise. It was a real threat.
If indoor air can be five times more polluted than outdoor air, then sitting in my own living room without taking action was like living next to a busy road with the windows open.
What I Changed
Whole House Positive Input Ventilation
The most significant change came from installing a whole house positive input ventilation system: Drimaster Positive Ventilation.
This system pulls in filtered air from the attic, circulates it throughout the house, and pushes out stale, polluted air. It’s like giving your house lungs.
The change was immediate. The air felt fresher and lighter, as if the house itself had exhaled.
HEPA Air Purifiers
I didn’t stop there. I added HEPA air purifiers in the rooms where I spend the most time:
– Coway AP-1512HH -in the bedroom – compact, powerful, and effective for fine particles.
– Blueair HEPA Smart filter – in the living room – larger coverage, combines HEPA with carbon filters to handle VOCs and particles.
Purifiers like these capture up to 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. Dust, pollen, mould spores, and even some bacteria – gone. Carbon filters absorb the invisible gases that regular filters miss.
Living the Difference
The change was not just theoretical.
After chemotherapy, when my breathing was shallow and fragile, I noticed that I could relax more easily at home. The heaviness I used to feel in my chest – that sense of “thick” air – lifted.
Ana and the kids noticed it too. The boys’ allergies (mild hayfever) improved. Guests remarked that the house felt “fresh,” even in winter when the windows were closed.
It wasn’t glamorous. No one looks at your ventilation system or purifier and thinks “Instagram moment.” But this invisible setup gave me confidence that my home was finally helping me instead of hindering me.
The Science That Made It Non-Negotiable
That statistic – indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air – comes from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and similar findings have been supported by studies across Europe.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) now ranks indoor air pollution as one of the top environmental health risks globally. Associated effects include:
– Increased risk of lung cancer
– Cardiovascular disease
– Respiratory illness
– Weakened immune response
For someone already living with cancer, this is more than a background worry. It’s like trying to run uphill with weights strapped to your chest.
HEPA filtration and positive input ventilation aren’t tricks. They’re proven methods to remove particles, allergens, and chemical residues that otherwise remain hidden in your lungs.
Why It Was Worth It
These changes weren't cheap. I could have dismissed them as unnecessary, especially with all the expenses that come with cancer. But for me, it wasn’t a luxury – it was about survival.
Because when you spend 90% of your life indoors, the air you breathe isn’t just filler. It’s fuel. And if that fuel is polluted, you’re asking your body to heal while being harmed one breath at a time.
By addressing air quality directly, I gained one more advantage in a system stacked against me.
Conclusion
“Indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air, and most of us spend 90% of our lives inside.”
That statistic changed how I live. It transformed my home from a passive backdrop into an active part of my healing.
I can’t say clean air cured my cancer. It didn’t. But it did give my body a better chance to fight without being constantly undermined. And when you’re stage IV, that difference matters.
My challenge to you:
Take a moment today to think about the air you breathe at home. Would you drink water if it was five times dirtier than what comes out of your tap? Then why breathe air that way?
You don’t need to overhaul your house overnight. Start small. Open windows when you can. Add a HEPA purifier to your bedroom. Notice the change.
Sometimes the most powerful changes aren’t visible. They’re simply in the air.
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