Annual IBCG Retreat shaping global bladder cancer care

The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition (WBCPC) had the honour to join the International Bladder Cancer Group (IBCG) Retreat in Houston, Texas (USA). This important event brought together experts from around the world to develop new recommendations for managing bladder cancer. These guidelines will help shape clinical decisions for doctors and improve care for people affected by bladder cancer.

Representing WBCPC at the retreat were our President, Dr Lydia Makaroff, and Executive Director, Alex Filicevas. They joined a panel with colleagues from the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) to share the patient advocacy perspective. This involvement was crucial in ensuring that the guidelines being developed consider the needs and experiences of patients.

During the discussions, several key recommendations were made:

• Focus on variant histology in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC):This highlights the importance of addressing the different forms of the disease in treatment plans.
• Using frailty instead of age in research:By recommending that frailty and performance status be used instead of age as criteria in clinical trials, the guidelines can become more inclusive, benefiting more patients.
• High-volume centers for complex surgeries:Encouraging the referral of patients to specialized centers where complex surgeries are more common can improve outcomes and reduce complications.
• Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols:Promoting the use of ERAS protocols, including prehabilitation to help patients recover better.
• Focus on survivorship and long-term care:Emphasizing the importance of ongoing care for patients, especially at the five-year mark, to help them manage long-term side effects and know what to look out for in case of recurrence.

The retreat was an excellent opportunity for global experts to collaborate and share ideas. The recommendations developed will help improve the standard of care for bladder cancer patients worldwide.