CANVES holds second bladder cancer patient day in Valencia

Bladder cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Spain, with more than 21,000 people receiving a new diagnosis every year. Behind that number are patients, carers, and families navigating a condition that remains widely misunderstood. Today, CANVES (Alianza por el Cáncer de Vejiga en España) held its second Bladder Cancer Patient Day at the Muy Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Valencia (MICOF), bringing together patients, carers, healthcare professionals, and scientific societies to strengthen the community and deepen the dialogue around care.

Bridging science and patient experience

The afternoon opened with a round table exploring the relationship between scientific societies and patient organisations, drawing voices from urology, oncology nursing, radiation oncology, and medical oncology. The conversation reflected a growing shared understanding: that the more than 75,000 people living with bladder cancer in Spain within five years of diagnosis are best served when clinical expertise and lived experience work together, not in parallel.

Putting patient questions at the centre

Three dedicated question blocks gave the day its focus. The first explored the management of localised disease, offering patients and carers the opportunity to ask the questions that often go unanswered in a clinical appointment. The second addressed one of the most significant decisions many people with bladder cancer face: the risks of bladder removal surgery and the options for urinary diversion. The third turned to advanced disease, bringing in perspectives from psycho-oncology and palliative care alongside medical expertise.

Looking to the future

The day closed with a forward-looking session inviting suggestions and ideas from those in the room, a reminder that the people most affected by bladder cancer have a fundamental role to play in shaping what comes next.

Holding this second patient day in Valencia, one year after the first in Madrid, shows how CANVES is growing its reach across Spain. We congratulate the team on another important step in building a stronger, more connected bladder cancer community.