Sharing 5 unique stories of women with bladder cancer

We have recently launched a new campaign, illuminating the experiences of women affected by bladder cancer. The five-part video series follows five women in five different corners of the world who share their very personal experiences with bladder cancer.

Highlighting the fact that one in four bladder cancer patients are women, this campaign emphasises how their stories often go unheard. Women face unique challenges throughout their care journey, with symptoms frequently misattributed to other causes, leading to delayed referrals to specialists and definitive diagnosis.

The Global Bladder Cancer Patient & Carer Survey uncovered that women had relatively poorer experiences at diagnosis including having to see a doctor more times in order to be referred. Women are almost three times more likely to feel that their initial symptoms were not taken seriously.

These five women are sharing stories to inspire others, create a community and advocate for better healthcare outcomes and support for women with bladder cancer around the world.

Meet Claudia, 46, from Italy
An inspiring mother from Rome, Claudia was first diagnosed with upper tract urothelial cancer, which later developed into urothelial carcinoma, or bladder cancer.

Meet Ana María, 79, from Argentina
Ana María, from Buenos Aires, shares her bladder cancer journey. Diagnosed in 2022, this is not her first battle with cancer; she overcame breast cancer a few decades ago.

Meet Angela, 42, from Canada
Angela, from Niverville, was diagnosed in 2020 after noticing blood in her urine. Initially treated for a suspected Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), her symptoms persisted, leading to a cystoscopy and subsequent biopsy that confirmed the bladder cancer diagnosis.

Meet Vivian, 50, from South Africa
Vivian, from Johannesburg, began her cancer journey in 2018 when she noticed occasional bleeding and sought medical attention.

Meet Fatima, 40, from India
Fatima, from Mumbai, noticed blood in her urine in 2017, prompting her to seek medical attention.

Together, we are advocating for increased awareness and action on issues women encounter when faced with a bladder cancer diagnosis and fostering a world where every woman’s health journey is acknowledged and supported.

We invite you to learn more about our “5 women, 5 experiences” campaign here.

If you want to learn more about bladder cancer, visit our bladder cancer information pages or contact our member organisations closest to you.