EAU26 session highlights urinary incontinence in bladder cancer and launches the Urge to Act campaign

At the European Association of Urology Congress 2026 (EAU26), the session “Living with urinary incontinence as a comorbidity: patient perspectives and the launch of the Urge to Act campaign document” explored an important but often overlooked issue for people affected by bladder cancer: urinary continence and its impact on everyday life.

Urinary incontinence can occur as a result of the disease itself or as a consequence of treatments such as surgery or urinary reconstruction. While the focus of care is often on treating the cancer, these long-term effects can significantly influence how people live with their bodies after treatment.

As highlighted during the session by Alex Filicevas, our Executive Director, continence issues are often difficult for patients to discuss openly.

For many people living with bladder cancer, urinary incontinence is not simply a clinical side effect. It can affect daily routines, emotional wellbeing and social participation. Patients often describe the practical adjustments they must make after treatment, such as worrying about leakage, planning activities around access to toilets, or feeling anxious about travelling, working or socialising.

The discussion also highlighted the stigma surrounding continence problems. Because bladder cancer affects intimate bodily functions, many patients feel uncomfortable raising these concerns with healthcare professionals or even with their families.

Data shared during the session also illustrated the emotional impact. In one survey of bladder cancer patients and caregivers, 43% reported that the impact of their condition had negatively affected their relationship with their partner.

These experiences show that continence issues are not only physical but also affect mental health, relationships and confidence.

The session also introduced the Urge to Act campaign, a Europe-wide initiative led by the European Association of Urology (EAU) Policy Office that calls for greater policy attention to continence health. The campaign aims to improve awareness, diagnosis and access to care for people living with urinary incontinence and related conditions.

Continence health problems affect tens of millions of people across Europe, yet they often remain under-recognised in healthcare systems and public policy despite their significant impact on quality of life and healthcare costs.

From a patient advocacy perspective, several priorities were highlighted during the session:

• Including continence outcomes in shared decision-making when discussing treatment options
• Providing better information and peer support for patients so people know they are not alone
• Recognising continence management as part of cancer survivorship care

Addressing urinary continence is essential to improving the quality of life for people living with and beyond bladder cancer. Initiatives such as Urge to Act aim to encourage more open conversations about continence and ensure this important aspect of survivorship is no longer overlooked.

Learn more about the Urge to Act campaign.