Strengthening the voice of patients at the Cancer Mission Fair in Warsaw

The First Cancer Mission Fair brought together patient advocates, healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers from across Europe to accelerate progress on the EU Cancer Mission and strengthen collaboration. Held in Warsaw, Poland, the event was also the stage for the official launch of the Polish Cancer Mission Hub, hosted under the framework of the ECHoS | Establishing of Cancer Mission Hubs: Networks and Synergies initiative.

The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition was proud to join this important gathering and contribute to the conversations that shape cancer policy, patient engagement, and future research priorities in Europe. We shared our work and experience in driving patient-centred action at the global level, with Theodoros Yfantis, presenting the World Bladder Cancer Patient Forum as an impactful model for community engagement and capacity building.

Our Executive Director, Alex Filicevas, joined the high-level panel during the launch of the Polish Cancer Mission Hub, where discussions focused on inclusive policymaking, the importance of cross-border synergies, and how cancer mission hubs can support sustainable and patient-informed cancer strategies.

We also celebrated a major milestone for patient advocacy: the establishment of the WECAN – transforming a decade-old informal network into a formal legal entity. This foundation unites 24 umbrella cancer patient organisations and marks a significant step forward for collective impact. The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition has proudly been a member of WECAN since 2020.

Throughout the event, we were inspired by the many organisations that shared their approaches to patient and citizen engagement. These exchanges reaffirmed the importance of collaboration in ensuring that patients’ voices are integrated at every level of cancer care and research.

We thank the organisers of the Cancer Mission Fair and the ECHoS initiative for creating this valuable platform and look forward to continuing our work together to ensure bladder cancer is no longer overlooked in the European cancer policy landscape.

Stay connected as we continue to advocate for stronger patient representation, increased awareness, and equitable access to care across Europe.