The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition (WBCPC), together with the European Association of Urology (EAU), has launched the report from the EUrology Session on Bladder Cancer, held on February 19, 2025. This event brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers and patient advocates to examine key issues affecting the bladder cancer landscape across Europe.
Bladder cancer is among the most common cancers in Europe, yet continues to receive disproportionately low policy and research attention.
On April 15, 2025, we participated in the EU Bladder Cancer Roundtable, organised by the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies and moderated by Prof. Dr. Hendrik Van Poppel, Chairman of the European Association of Urology Policy Office. The event brought together leading voices in bladder cancer care, research, and policy to discuss early diagnosis, gender disparities, research funding, and EU-wide recommendations aimed at improving outcomes for people affected by bladder cancer.
On April 8, 2025, we took part in a key policy event focused on the future of tobacco control across Europe. Organised by the European Respiratory Society and the European Public Health Alliance, the meeting brought together leading voices from public health, legal policy, and civil society to explore how Europe can move from managing tobacco use to ending it altogether.
For the bladder cancer community, this conversation is critical.
We recently attended the event ‘Unlocking Europe’s Future: Prioritising Health under the Next Multiannual Financial Framework’, organised by the EU4Health Civil Society Alliance and hosted at the European Parliament. The event brought together civil society organisations, policymakers, and healthcare advocates to discuss the role of EU funding in building healthier, more equitable societies.
While many important health topics were covered, several points stood out as especially relevant for the bladder cancer community.
At EAU25, the session “The Impact of Cancer on Mental Health” moderated by WBCPC Executive Director, Alex Filicevas, brought attention to the often-overlooked emotional challenges faced by people living with cancer. The conversation focused on how fear, anxiety, isolation, and uncertainty can affect every stage of the cancer journey and how healthcare systems must evolve to better support patients’ mental wellbeing.
Discussions highlighted that cancer is not just a physical diagnosis;
The EUrology Session on Bladder Cancer brought together policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates to discuss pressing issues in bladder cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. The session highlighted the urgent need for stronger policy action, investment in research and innovation, and a greater focus on patient-centred care.
It was an opportunity to launch the Tackling Bladder Cancer in Europe Summary Booklet which is available to download below. Based on the White Paper on Bladder cancer published in 2023 together with the European Association of Urology,
The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition (WBCPC), in collaboration with the European Association of Urology (EAU), is hosting an important bladder cancer awareness event at the EAU Office in Brussels on February 19, 2025.
This event, part of the EUrology session series, will bring together EU policymakers, healthcare professionals, and patient advocates to discuss the challenges in bladder cancer care and explore actionable solutions. A key focus will be the presentation of the joint WBCPC-EAU White Paper,
At the World Bladder Cancer Patient Forum 2024, Eva María Ruiz de Castilla, Executive Director of The Latin America Patients Academy (LAPA), conducted a practical workshop titled Policy as a Tool to Advocate for Bladder Cancer Patient Needs. In this interactive session, Eva María guided patient advocates through the process of using policy to improve healthcare access and ensure better treatment, care and support for bladder cancer patients.
At the World Bladder Cancer Patient Forum 2024, a panel of experts joined to discuss patient involvement in clinical trials. Moderated by WBCPC President Dr Lydia Makaroff, the session explored how engaging patients throughout the research process – design, recruitment, and education – can lead to more impactful trials and improved outcomes.
Dr Lydia Makaroff set the stage by highlighting recent data from the WBCPC Global Survey, where 84% of bladder cancer patients reported they did not receive any information about participating in clinical trials.
At the World Bladder Cancer Patient Forum 2024, a fireside chat featuring Fiorella Gagliardi, President of VICARE GU organisation in Argentina, and Marie Magenhann Cueto, Community Engagement Coordinator at WBCPC, shed light on the need to improve cancer patient rights in Latin America. The conversation focused on the challenges facing bladder cancer patients in the region and how advocacy efforts can improve care and access to essential resources.
The discussion highlighted the unequal access to healthcare services that many patients in Latin America encounter,
