What We Do

The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research, providing information and support to the bladder cancer community, and raising awareness of bladder cancer across the country.  Check out the links below to learn more about what we are doing to advance research, provide educational resources and support services, and raise awareness.

Advancing Research

• Bladder Cancer Think Tank – BCAN hosts the only bladder cancer specific scientific conference in North America.  The 6th annual Bladder Cancer Think Tank convened in San Diego in August, 2011 and focused on “Identifying Obstacles and Creating Solutions in Bladder Cancer: Basic Science, Clinical Trials and Survivorship.”
• BCAN Award for Bladder Cancer Research -  BCAN was proud to present Dr. Elizabeth Guancial, a Fellow in the Dana Farber/Partners Cancer Care Hematology/Oncology program in Boston, with the inaugural $25,000 BCAN Award for Bladder Cancer Research in 2010.  The 2011 award was presented to Dr. Gil Redelman-Sidi, a research fellow at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. This research award, now called the Raymond and Maria Floyd Award for Bladder Cancer Research, was established to advance research that will increase the understanding of bladder cancer risk, biology, prevention and treatment while encouraging young investigators to pursue a career in bladder cancer research.
• Advocacy for Research Funds and Health Policies – BCAN volunteers have served on panels at the FDA and Department of Defense as bladder cancer patient representatives to advocate for more treatment options and research funds.  BCAN continues to partner with the Cancer Leadership Council and One Voice Against Cancer to advocate on Capitol Hill and at the National Cancer Institute.  In the future, BCAN plans to expand our advocacy efforts for increased federal funds allocated to bladder cancer research.  If you are interested in helping, please email volunteer@bcan.org.

Education

• BCAN’s website:  www.bcan.org – BCAN’s website is one of the most comprehensive bladder cancer resources on the web.  All medical information is reviewed by our Scientific Advisory Board, a group of more than 40 leading academic urologists, oncologists, radiation oncologists, and pathologists working within the bladder cancer field.
• Treatment Option Tool and Clinical Trial Matching Tool – These services help people make informed treatment decisions and obtain specific information about participating in bladder cancer clinical research trials.
• BCAN Emails and Newsletters – BCAN sends quarterly email newsletters packed with information and regular email alerts to our mailing list.  Join our mailing list to receive these emails.
• BCAN’s Patient Handbook - Bladder Cancer Basics for the Newly Diagnosed is available for download, or you can request a free copy be mailed to you.  This comprehensive patient handbook, developed with BCAN’s Scientific Advisory Board, is a valuable source of information to patients and caregivers who are seeking reliable, understandable information.
• Medical Outreach Program - BCAN volunteers personally contact urology practices and cancer centers across the United States to distribute BCAN’s educational materials at no cost.  Practices can then reorder these supplies online.
• BCAN Patient Forums - BCAN is proud to offer semi-annual patient forums at various sites across the country.  These educational forums bring together medical professionals, researchers, bladder cancer patients, caregivers, and loved ones to hear presentations on bladder cancer from experts in the field.  Webcasts of past patient forums are available on the BCAN Patient Forums webpage.

Support

• Patient Calls and Emails – BCAN staff supplement the Frequently Asked Questions and general information posted on our website by answering patient calls and emails for information, resources, and support.
• Online Support Community – The online bladder cancer support community is available to survivors, caregivers, and loved ones 24 hours a day.  It is free to join, and more than 2,000 members have posted thousands of different discussions supporting each other on their bladder cancer journeys.
• Support Groups – BCAN staff and local volunteers have facilitated the development of several in-person bladder cancer specific support groups across the country.  If you are interested in starting a support group in your area, please contact BCAN at volunteer@bcan.org for information and resources.

Raising Awareness

• Bladder Cancer Awareness Day and Walks for Bladder Cancer – The first annual Bladder Cancer Awareness Day, on Saturday, July 17, 2010, featured more than 25 events across the country.  On May 7, 2011, more than 45 walks to raise awareness of bladder cancer and money for BCAN’s programs were held nationwide, and more than $130,000 was raised.  You can organize a walk for 2012!
• Other Ways to Raise Awareness – BCAN supporters can help raise awareness every day by wearing a BCAN awareness shirt, writing a letter to the editor of your local paper, or becoming a Bladder Cancer Ambassador.
• BCAN Volunteers – BCAN volunteers help raise awareness about bladder cancer and provide support to survivors.  Learn more about what you can do to help, or find out about what current volunteers are doing.