American Cancer Society and Guardant Health Forge Strategic Partnership to Expand Cancer Screening and Tackle Health Disparities Nationwide
The American Cancer Society has announced a strategic partnership with Guardant Health , a leading precision oncology company, to improve access to cancer screening and promote health equity across the United States. This collaboration is designed to bolster ACS’s ongoing nationwide initiatives aimed at enhancing awareness, promoting early detection, and overcoming the systemic barriers that prevent underserved communities from receiving lifesaving cancer screenings.
A Shared Mission: Preventing Cancer and Saving Lives
Guardant Health’s mission is centered on harnessing advanced technologies in precision oncology to detect cancer earlier and improve patient outcomes. By teaming up with ACS—a globally recognized leader in cancer research, advocacy, and community-based intervention—the two organizations aim to significantly advance their shared goals: expanding cancer screening and addressing the deep-rooted disparities in access to preventive care.
“Regular cancer screening saves lives by finding certain cancers early, when they are often easier to treat or even prevent altogether,” said Maria Olson, Executive Vice President of the American Cancer Society. “With support from Guardant Health, we can reach more people across the Bay Area with the information, tools, and services they need to take action for their health.”
This partnership is expected to have a particular impact in regions such as California, which—despite being home to some of the most innovative healthcare systems in the world—continues to lag behind national averages in key cancer screening metrics.
California’s Screening Gap: A Call to Action
Data from the American Cancer Society highlights a troubling disparity in cancer screening uptake across California:
- Only 64% of women aged 45 and older in California are up to date on mammogram screenings, compared to 69% nationwide.
- Colorectal cancer screening rates in the state are similarly lower, with 60% of eligible individuals screened versus 62% nationally.
These statistics underscore a persistent public health challenge and present a crucial opportunity to increase screening coverage, especially in historically underserved communities. Through this partnership, ACS and Guardant Health intend to close these gaps and increase equitable access to preventive care.
The Growing Burden of Cancer in the U.S.
The urgency of expanding access to screening becomes even more apparent in light of current and projected cancer statistics:
- In 2025, approximately 2,041,910 people in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with cancer.
- More than 600,000 lives are projected to be lost to the disease during the same year.
Despite the staggering numbers, there is reason for optimism. Thanks to reductions in smoking, improvements in early detection, and advances in treatment, cancer mortality has declined by 34% from 1991 to 2022—an achievement that has prevented approximately 4.5 million deaths.
ACS and Guardant Health’s partnership is focused on sustaining and accelerating this progress, with an emphasis on populations that continue to face structural and social barriers to care.
Guardant Health’s Role in ACS’s Multi-Faceted Strategy
Guardant Health’s support will play a pivotal role in enhancing the scope and impact of several of ACS’s flagship initiatives, including:
1. “I Love You, Get Screened” Campaign Expansion
This national public awareness campaign delivers culturally tailored health education to diverse communities, including Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and LGBTQ+ populations. In 2024 alone, the campaign generated over 313 million media impressions, elevating the message that early detection saves lives.
With Guardant Health’s backing, ACS aims to expand this campaign further, particularly across California and other states with high rates of screening disparities.
2. Enhanced Digital Tools on Cancer.org
Guardant Health will help ACS promote and expand the reach of its online locator tool, which connects individuals to more than 15,000 cancer screening locations across the country. This tool is especially valuable for those living in rural areas or underserved urban neighborhoods where access to care is limited.
3. Community-Based Interventions and Support Services
ACS has long championed community-centric strategies for cancer prevention, and Guardant Health’s support will amplify those efforts. These include:
- Patient education initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of timely screenings.
- Navigation assistance to help individuals schedule and attend screening appointments.
- Transportation support for those without access to reliable travel options.
- Language access services to ensure that non-English-speaking populations receive culturally and linguistically appropriate care.
These interventions yielded significant results in 2024, leading to over 555,000 completed screenings and 7,800 cancers detected.
4. Collaboration with State-Level Coalitions
In addition to its national reach, ACS works closely with state-level coalitions to develop tailored strategies that increase screening rates and eliminate health disparities. In California, Guardant Health will support localized campaigns and coalition efforts that tackle regional challenges with customized solutions.
“Guardant Health is proud to partner with the American Cancer Society in the fight to expand cancer screening access,” said AmirAli Talasaz, co-founder and co-CEO of Guardant Health. “We share a commitment to ensuring that everyone—regardless of race, ethnicity, income, or ZIP code—has access to convenient and timely cancer screening, so we can detect cancer earlier and give them the opportunity for a better outcome.”
Community Engagement Throughout 2025
The partnership will also support ACS’s seasonal public engagement campaigns, which align with major national cancer awareness months. These include:
- January – Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
- March – Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
- September – Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
- October – Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- November – Lung Cancer Awareness Month
During these campaigns, ACS will share personal survivor stories, host local community events, and disseminate educational resources through trusted voices. The aim is to not only encourage screenings but also to foster a culture of proactive health management, especially among those who are most at risk of being left behind.
Advancing Health Equity Through Innovation and Collaboration
This partnership represents more than a corporate collaboration—it’s a joint investment in health equity, early detection, and cancer prevention. By combining ACS’s extensive community reach with Guardant Health’s cutting-edge precision oncology tools and resources, the organizations hope to reshape the landscape of cancer care and screening in America.
