BCLEAR project kicks off to advance bladder cancer literacy in Europe

Today, together with partners from across Europe, we met for the official kick-off meeting of BCLEAR: Bladder Cancer Literacy for All: Advancing Knowledge and Care in Europe.

This event was kindly hosted by the Hungarian Permanent Representation to the European Union. Co-funded by the European Union, this three-year initiative brings together the patient community, urologists, family doctors, academia and public health experts with a shared mission to improve bladder cancer literacy and reduce inequalities in access to information and care across the region.

Bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Europe, yet it remains widely under-recognised despite its profound impact on patients and their families. Around 60% of bladder cancer cases occur in the EU’s lower-income countries, primarily affecting high-risk populations. Limited public awareness, combined with difficulties recognising early symptoms, often leads to late diagnosis. Even after diagnosis, many patients and families lack clear, reliable, and accessible information about treatment options and care pathways, which affects their ability to engage in shared decision-making and contributes to unequal outcomes across countries.

BCLEAR aims to close these gaps and strengthen shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals.

The project will:

• Map bladder cancer health literacy levels across all EU Member States
• Launch pilot activities in Greece, Poland, and Hungary, where awareness gaps are greatest
• Develop educational materials in multiple languages for the general public
• Create shared decision-making tools for both non-muscle-invasive and muscle-invasive bladder cancer
• Run awareness campaigns and organise stakeholder events locally and across Europe
• Deliver policy recommendations to support long-term change

“This is a real opportunity for healthcare professionals to co-develop the SDM resources with patients and specifically working with key stakeholders in Hungary, Greece and Poland.” – Prof. Eammon Rogers, Chair of EAU Patient Office

WBCPC looks forward to contributing the patient voice to this ambitious project and working with partners across Europe to ensure no person faces bladder cancer without the knowledge, resources, and support they need.

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.