Building Pathways to Better Lung Health: Partnering With American Lung Association to Drive Early Detection and Timely Diagnosis for Lung Cancer and COPD

By Arun Krishna, Vice President, Head of Lung Cancer Franchise, and Elizabeth Bodin, Vice President, US Respiratory & Immunology

On average, each adult takes roughly 17,000-28,000 breaths a day without giving it a single thought.1 Yet for millions of Americans living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer, every breath can be a struggle. This November, as we observe COPD and Lung Cancer Awareness Months, we’re spotlighting our partnership with the American Lung Association that is helping increase awareness of COPD and lung cancer risk factors. This important program is also turning awareness into action by leveraging the American Lung Association’s Lung Health Navigators to help remove barriers that limit those who are eligible from getting screened and to guide them through early detection.²

Why are we pairing COPD and lung cancer? Because, as many may not realize, the connection between the two runs deep. In one study of nearly 160,000 lung cancer patients, 73.5% also had COPD.³ This overlap demands our attention, and more importantly, a dual approach with a goal of helping to drive better awareness, early detection and comprehensive patient support.

Two Diseases, One Urgent Challenge

The numbers tell an urgent story about lung cancer and COPD in America.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, responsible for one in five cancer deaths.⁴ Yet only an estimated 20% of eligible individuals get screened.5 Even more concerning, nearly half of lung cancer screenings now occur outside the most recent US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines—a sign that the disease is increasingly affecting younger people, those who don’t smoke and others who don't meet traditional screening criteria.⁶

COPD is another pressing challenge impacting 11.1 million Americans, with millions more undiagnosed.⁷ It's a leading cause of disability and death that makes daily life difficult for those living with it. COPD can be both preventable and treatable, yet widespread underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis leave many patients without proper care.⁸ These gaps hit hardest in underserved and rural communities where access to care and education can be limited.⁹

Partnering with the American Lung Association to Accelerate Diagnosis and Treatment

We’re proud to announce this month that AstraZeneca is partnering with the American Lung Association to help create a pathway from education to screening to personalized care. By combining our LungXperience mobile tour with the American Lung Association's Lung Health Navigator Program, we're building something different: a system that doesn't just raise awareness but also removes barriers and supports people to ensure they get screened and connected to care. This innovative collaboration also allows us to measure success by tracking the number of people who get screened and diagnosed.

“Lung cancer is a devastating disease that impacts far too many families across the US, and too few people who are eligible for the screening are getting scanned. This provides a tremendous opportunity,” said Laura Huaracha, RN, BSN, Lung Health Navigator for the American Lung Association.¹⁰ “We are honored to partner with AstraZeneca to help more people learn about our Lung Health Navigator program and, ultimately, get more people screened for lung cancer. Together, we are taking steps to end the burden of lung cancer on families.”

LungXperience makes lung health education tangible and accessible with a mobile tour that brings vital information directly to communities at events like NASCAR races, NHRA drag race events and state fairs. Through our new partnership with the American Lung Association, participants can opt in to connect with American Lung Association’s Lung Health Navigators, including trained respiratory health professionals and registered nurses, who provide personalized, one-on-one support. They guide people through screening eligibility, help schedule appointments, arrange transportation, connect them to tobacco cessation programs and cover screening costs for those who are uninsured or underinsured. Importantly, the program tracks how community engagement translates into actual screenings and diagnoses, providing measurable impact while helping people navigate complex healthcare systems, understand their diagnosis, and the available resources and emotional support every step of the way.

Empowering COPD Patients

For people living with COPD, Lung Health Navigators provide targeted services. Through three to five personalized sessions, available by phone, video, text or chat, patients receive self-management tools while learning about medication adherence, symptom monitoring and lifestyle modifications. Lung Health Navigators also address the emotional and psychological toll of COPD, including the anxiety and depression that can accompany chronic lung disease. As a result, patients develop stronger self-management skills, feel more empowered in conversations with their healthcare providers, and experience a better quality of life while living with COPD.

Healthier Communities Start Locally

Through our partnership with the American Lung Association, we’re supporting more than 75 community events across the country, turning awareness into measurable action through screenings, patient referrals and ongoing education for COPD, lung cancer and asthma. These community efforts are part of our broader commitment to advancing lung health and reducing health disparities nationwide.

AstraZeneca's Commitment to Lung Health

We’re also driving systemic change beyond community engagement through supporting events like American Lung Association's Lung Force Advocacy Day and convening lawmakers, policy experts and patient advocates to address the urgent challenges facing people living with COPD. Together, these initiatives reflect our dedication to advocacy, education and equitable access to care, ensuring lung health receives the national attention it deserves. Because when it comes to lung health, every breath matters.