This May, the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition (WBCPC) is launching Bladder Cancer Awareness Month 2025 under the theme “Feeling Unsure? Get Checked”. The campaign highlights the importance of recognising blood in urine as a symptom of bladder cancer and acting quickly to seek medical advice.
Addressing delays in bladder cancer diagnosis
One of the greatest challenges in diagnosing bladder cancer is hesitation. Many people delay seeking medical attention when they notice symptoms like blood in their urine,
This week, we mark Patient Experience Week by recognising the importance of delivering high-quality care to people living with bladder cancer, focusing not only on access to treatment but also on the overall care experience.
Improving the patient experience goes beyond clinical pathways. It includes fostering dignity, empathy, and ensuring that individuals feel seen, heard, and supported from the moment of diagnosis and throughout their care journey.
At the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition,
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.
This year’s World Health Day, held on 7 April, is focused on the theme “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures”. The campaign highlights the importance of supporting women and babies before, during, and after birth, so they can live long and healthy lives.
At the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition, we support this call by also focusing on the beginning of the journey for people diagnosed with bladder cancer. For many, that beginning is not easy,
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.
In May, let’s spark conversations that raise awareness about bladder cancer by highlighting the symptoms of bladder cancer and overcoming any barriers to seeking medical advice.
This year we will once again say it out loud: Feeling unsure? Get checked.
How can you get involved?
There are many ways you can join the community and lend your support during Bladder Cancer Awareness Month 2025. We’ve gathered all campaign resources on our Padlet page,
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;
