Current Success and Future Ambitions for Greater Awareness

At the World Bladder Cancer Patient Forum 2024, a fireside chat titled Current Successes and Future Ambitions for Greater Awareness brought together Lori Cirefice, President of Cancer Vessie France; Lauren Pretorius, CEO of Campaigning for Cancer, South Africa; and Amy Samuel, a bladder cancer patient and advocate from Senegal. The session focused on the current state of bladder cancer awareness and the steps needed to achieve further progress in this area.

Lori Cirefice began by sharing the three main goals of Cancer Vessie France’s awareness efforts: reaching a wider general public audience, raising awareness about the organisation and building stronger relationships with healthcare professionals. She emphasised that achieving these goals is critical for increasing the visibility of bladder cancer and ensuring better support for patients. Lori also shared a valuable tip, noting that working with an external agency has significantly amplified their campaigns, allowing them to connect with more people effectively. She explained that the agency provided specialised expertise in public relations and digital outreach, helping Cancer Vessie France to reach new audiences through tailored messaging and strategic distribution. She encouraged other organisations to consider similar partnerships to amplify their efforts. Lori concluded by urging patient advocates to remain patient and creative, stressing that consistent efforts are essential to creating lasting change in bladder cancer awareness and patient care.

Lauren Pretorius talked about the challenges of raising awareness about bladder cancer in South Africa. She explained that many people are diagnosed too late because there are not enough resources and healthcare is not easily available for everyone. Lauren stressed the need for campaigns that address local needs, involve communities, train healthcare workers, and improve tools to detect bladder cancer sooner. She mentioned the 5 Women/5 Experiences initiative from the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition, calling it a strong and inspiring campaign. This initiative shares stories of five women affected by bladder cancer from different parts of the world, making the issue more relatable. Lauren praised it as a good example of how awareness campaigns can use personal stories to capture attention and build understanding, which is important for making change. She encouraged others to create similar campaigns that use real stories to raise awareness and drive meaningful impact.

Amy Samuel, shared insights into bladder cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease often remains undiagnosed or is discovered too late. She explained that in countries like Senegal, bladder cancer is the second most common urological cancer, with many cases being squamous cell carcinoma, a more aggressive type of bladder cancer. Amy noted that awareness campaigns must address cultural factors that affect symptom reporting and healthcare-seeking behavior. She emphasised the power of storytelling in raising awareness, using personal experiences to highlight the impact of bladder cancer and push for policy changes that prioritize patient needs.

The fireside chat concluded with a discussion on the future of global awareness campaigns. Lori, Lauren, and Amy agreed on the need for a united approach to ensure equal support and care for bladder cancer patients worldwide. They called for increased funding, stronger collaborations among advocacy groups, and culturally sensitive campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences.

Watch Current Success and Future Ambitions for Greater Awareness, a fireside chat with Lori Cirefice, Lauren Pretorius, and Amy Samuel, on the WBCPC YouTube Channel.