Fundación Proyecto Cáncer joins WBCPC community

We are delighted to welcome Fundación Proyecto Cáncer (FUPROCER) from Colombia as a new member of the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition. The organisation becomes the first WBCPC member from Colombia, further strengthening our presence and collaboration across Latin America.

Founded by Oscar Javier Rodríguez Caro, who was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2022 at the age of 48, Fundación Proyecto Cáncer is a patient-led, non-profit organisation based in Bogotá. His personal experience inspired him to create a foundation that supports others navigating the same journey. While FUPROCER’s mission spans different types of cancer, it places a strong initial focus on bladder cancer, aiming to raise awareness, promote early detection, and improve patient understanding in Colombia.

The organisation’s work combines awareness raising, education, storytelling, and community engagement. Among its first initiatives, FUPROCER organised a series of five talks during Bladder Cancer Awareness Month 2025, where urology patients and healthcare professionals shared their experiences, discussed symptoms, prevention, and treatment, and encouraged early medical consultation. They also produced and shared original video interviews with urologists, survivors, and carers to make patient voices heard and reduce stigma around bladder cancer.

A key part of FUPROCER’s work is building a virtual library of patient stories, a digital space where people affected by cancer can find reliable information, connect with others, and feel less alone in their experience. Through accessible materials in Spanish and in-person community sessions, the foundation is helping to bridge gaps in information and support for bladder cancer patients in Colombia.

Around 2,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year in Colombia, where the disease ranks as the 15th most common cancer. More broadly, over 117,000 Colombians are diagnosed with cancer annually, and more than 56,000 die from it, highlighting the need for stronger awareness, early detection, and patient support initiatives like FUPROCER.

The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition believes that organisations such as Fundación Proyecto Cáncer play a vital role in raising awareness locally, advocating for patients’ needs, and providing peer support. Their work helps ensure that people affected by bladder cancer, their families, and carers receive the understanding and care they deserve.

We encourage bladder cancer patients, carers, families, and advocates to join together to improve support, information, and care for people affected by bladder cancer in their communities. To help new groups get started, we have developed the Start-up guide for bladder cancer patient groups: a step-by-step resource full of practical advice and inspiration from our members.

If you would like to learn more, start your own bladder cancer patient group, or join our Coalition, please contact us at info@worldbladdercancer.org.

Find out more about Fundación Proyecto Cáncer here.