The American Lung Association has launched its Patient & Caregiver Network to support over 34 million Americans diagnosed with COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer and other lung diseases.

Through network (formerly known as the Better Breathers Network), the American Lung Association will provide people living with lung disease and their caregivers who join (members) with three critical areas of information to help them live better with lung disease:

  1. Support: By joining the Patient & Caregiver Network, members can connect with peers who are going through the same challenges through 11 online support communities hosted on Inspire.com covering a wide range of topics from lung cancer to asthma, COPD, long COVID, pulmonary fibrosis and more. Members can also attend in-person Better Breathers Clubs across the country. 
  2. Education: Through the network, members regularly receive information and resources through e-newsletters, invitations to live and on-demand webcasts, and access to member resources like breathing exercise videos, nutrition tips, medication device demonstrations and more at Lung.org/PCN-Resource-Center.
  3. Research: The Patient & Caregiver Network provides access to cutting-edge research on lung disease, such as information on clinical trials through the Lung Association’s website, connection to research studies being conducted at the Airways Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) and simplified versions of new research studies at Lung.org/Research-News.

“Many lung diseases like COPD and asthma are life-long journeys. A diagnosis can be scary and lung diseases are often very isolating. Fortunately, new research is resulting in better treatments so that people with lung disease are living longer, healthier lives,” said Harold Wimmer, National President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “Our new Patient & Caregiver Network is the go-to resource for anyone living with a lung disease and their families.”

“For someone living with COPD or any lung disease, it is critical to advocate for yourself and connect with others to learn how to live better with this disease,” said Midge Wilson, who is living with COPD and an active member of the American Lung Association’s COPD Patient Advisory Group.

More information on the Patient & Caregiver Network, including how to join, is available at Lung.org/PCN. 

Patient & Caregiver Network