Bladder cancer awareness month

Every May, Bladder Cancer Awareness Month shines a light on a cancer that is often overlooked, misunderstood, or mistaken for something else.

Bladder cancer affects more than 610,000 people worldwide each year, and over 1.9 million people are currently living with the disease. Yet awareness remains low, and symptoms are too often ignored or misinterpreted.

Early diagnosis makes a real difference. When bladder cancer is detected early, treatment is highly effective and survival rates can reach up to 90%. Recognising symptoms and acting quickly can save lives.

What everyone should know about bladder cancer

• Blood in the urine is the most important warning sign: Seeing blood in your urine, even once, even without pain, should never be ignored.
• Symptoms can look like other conditions: Frequent urination, urgency, pain while urinating, or repeated “urinary tract infections” may also be signs.
• Bladder cancer affects both men and women: It is more common in men, but women are often diagnosed later because symptoms are mistaken for infections or age-related changes.
• Smoking is the biggest risk factor, but many people with bladder cancer have never smoked.
• If something feels unusual for you, get checked.

Feeling unsure? Get checked.

2026 marks the final year of our three-year global awareness campaign “Feeling Unsure? Get Checked”, led by the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition.

The campaign focuses on one key challenge: people often hesitate to seek medical advice when they notice possible symptoms, especially blood in the urine.

This hesitation can delay diagnosis and reduce treatment success. The campaign encourages people to:

• trust their instinct
• not ignore uncertainty
• speak to a healthcare professional early

The Unsure icon represents hesitation, blurred signals, and the uncertainty many people experience before diagnosis. Today, it is a recognisable symbol of bladder cancer awareness around the world.

2026 awareness initiatives

In 2026, Bladder Cancer Awareness Month brings together interactive and storytelling initiatives designed to turn awareness into action:

• Spot the Drop: an interactive reaction-speed game reminding people that when you spot a change, acting quickly matters. Players are encouraged to share their scores and challenge others.
• #UnsureStories: a global storytelling initiative sharing short moments of uncertainty from patients, carers and healthcare professionals, helping others recognise symptoms sooner and feel less alone.

• The #GetChecked Challenge: a social media challenge inviting people to complete the sentence “If you’re feeling unsure…” and pass the message on, creating a chain of peer-to-peer awareness.

Together, these initiatives aim to spark conversations, reduce hesitation and encourage earlier action when something does not feel right.

Bladder Cancer Awareness Month Grants: A 3 Year Commitment

In 2026, we are launching a new multi-year Bladder Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) Grant Programme (2026–2028) to support sustained, locally led awareness-raising efforts in low- and middle-income countries. Three grants will be awarded, each providing phased support over three years to help patient organisations, informal groups and advocacy networks build lasting bladder cancer awareness in their communities.

By moving beyond one-off activities, the BCAM Grants aim to strengthen long-term impact, continuity and local capacity. Learn more and apply here.

Join the Conversation

Bladder Cancer Awareness Month 2026 is a call to action for people and communities to unite, share knowledge, and challenge misconceptions. Together, we can ensure that no one facing bladder cancer is forgotten.