WBCPCP2020 series captures the highlights of our Annual Meeting, in a series of two articles and provides inspiration for moving bladder cancer advocacy forward.

This year we are meeting virtually and hope to bring our event to an even wider global audience. The WBCPC 2020 Annual Meeting theme is “Ensuring bladder cancer is on the global health policy agenda”

In response to the global pandemic currently affecting people across the world, several cancer charities have come together to develop a joint statement on COVID-19 and cancer. Collectively we are calling for a global plan of action for cancer to meet the challenges and protect cancer patients from future pandemics or health crises.

Today the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition (WBCPC) has launched a newly developed start-up guide that will provide information and support to bladder cancer patient organisations – helping them grow and establish themselves using best-practice knowledge gained from other bladder cancer patient organisations.

It is with great sadness that today we remember the passing of Andrew Winterbottom one year ago on this date. Andrew was a strong and passionate patient advocate in bladder cancer worldwide; and a friend and ally to many in the bladder cancer community. To honour his life’s mission, a start-up guide for bladder cancer patient organisations has been launched on this day by WBCPC.

For the first time in history, people affected by bladder cancer – the 10th most common cancer in the world – will have a voice in the newly established World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition. This marks the first global bladder cancer umbrella organisation.