17 October 2025 .Berlin , Germany
Engaging in Advocacy, EVENTS

GCCN leads Shared Decision-Making roundtable at ESMO 2025

On October 17, the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition joined the Global Cancer Coalitions Network (GCCN) and Ipsen for a Shared Decision-Making Roundtable held ahead of the ESMO 2025 Congress in Berlin. The meeting brought together cancer coalitions, patient organisations and clinical experts to examine how shared decision-making can be better embedded in routine oncology care.

Shared decision-making is an important part of patient-centred cancer care. It ensures that patients receive clear information about their treatment options and can take part in choosing the approach that best reflects their needs and preferences. However, the discussion highlighted that this is not applied consistently across cancer types and care settings.

Data shared during the roundtable showed:

  • Bladder cancer (WBCPC Bladder Cancer Patient & Carer Experience Survey):45% of respondents reported that they did not feel fully informed about treatment options or involved in choosing their care pathway.
  • Lung cancer (Global Lung Cancer Coalition): Around 1 in 3 patients would like greater involvement in treatment decisions.
  • Kidney cancer (International Kidney Cancer Coalition): Levels of shared decision-making vary widely by country and care setting, ranging from under 40% of patients feeling involved in some countries to more than 70% in others.
  • Lymphoma (Lymphoma Coalition): Levels of involvement also differ between treatment teams, ranging from around 40% to about 65% of patients feeling involved in decisions about their care.

In bladder cancer specifically, shared decision-making is especially important because patients often face complex treatment choices affecting organ preservation or surgery to remove them, long-term quality of life, recurrence, and follow-up care. This makes clear communication and structured dialogue between patients and clinicians essential to support informed and confident decision-making.

«Shared decision-making cannot be delivered in theory. It must be supported in practice with adequate information, trusted dialogue and enabling structures that make patient participation in decisions concerning their treatment and care possible across all cancers and in all countries.

Alex Filicevas, GCCN Co-CHair

The roundtable forms part of GCCN wider work to strengthen equity and patient involvement in cancer care globally. Insights from the meeting will contribute to a practical implementation framework co-developed with cancer patient advocacy organisations and clinical experts.

Members of the cancer advocacy community are invited to contribute to the consultation by completing the survey here closing on October 22.

The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition is a member of the Global Cancer Coalitions Network and actively contributes to joint initiatives aimed at advancing patient-led priorities in international cancer policy and advocacy.

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