Bladder Cancer Burden Survey findings discussed at AUA2026

Our Executive Director, Alex Filicevas, recently sat down with Dr Ashish Kamat, MD, Chair of the WBCPC Scientific Advisory Board, for a conversation with UroToday and GU OncToday at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting (AUA2026) in Washington DC. Together, they discussed new findings from the recently published Bladder Cancer Burden Survey, and what the data reveals about the real impact of bladder cancer treatment on the lives of patients.

The numbers are striking. More than 9 in 10 patients said treatment caused them to miss important life moments, and 1 in 3 reported avoiding leaving their home, seeing family, or going out in public because of treatment. Behind every diagnosis is a person with a family, plans, and milestones they want to be present for. Patients are not just their diagnosis.

The Bladder Cancer Burden Survey gathered insights from more than 800 patients and more than 800 urologists across six countries: the USA, Mexico, Brazil, France, Germany and Japan. It was developed in collaboration with the International Bladder Cancer Group (IBCG), the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, and Johnson & Johnson.

The findings point clearly to an unmet need that goes well beyond clinical outcomes. Treatment affects not just physical health, but the ability of patients to participate in ordinary life. Isolation, missed gatherings, curtailed independence: these are the lived realities that do not always surface in a clinical consultation unless doctors and patients have real, open conversations.

That is what shared decision-making looks like in practice. When patients feel heard, informed, and respected, they are better equipped to make choices that reflect not only their medical situation but their lives, values, and priorities. We encourage urologists, oncologists, nurses, and all healthcare professionals working in bladder cancer to watch the full conversation and reflect on what these findings mean for practice.

Watch the full conversation here