Spanish Language Handbook Translation

The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) has just released its updated patient handbook Bladder Cancer Basics for the Newly Diagnosed in Spanish. BCAN is the first national advocacy organization dedicated to improving public awareness of bladder cancer and increasing research directed towards the diagnosis, treatment and cure of the disease. The non-profit provides information and support to bladder cancer patients and caregivers. The handbook was written as a tool for recently diagnosed bladder cancer patients and their caregivers. It explains the basics of bladder cancer diagnosis, symptoms, risk factors, treatment options, and survivorship.

Since the handbook was first published in 2008, there have been requests for the handbook in Spanish. The medical community felt there was a great need for bladder cancer information to be available in Spanish because of the growing Hispanic population in the United States. According to the Census Bureau, in 2010, 50.5 million Americans, or 16% of the population, identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino. In 2009 the US Census Bureau estimated that 35 million US residents spoke Spanish at home. This number is expected to keep growing as Hispanics are the largest, fastest growing minority in the United States. Moreover, cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanics, accounting for 21% of deaths. In the United States, about 1 in 2 Hispanic men and 1 in 3 Hispanic women will develop cancer in their lifetime⁵. In 2012, an estimated 2,200 Hispanic men were newly diagnosed with bladder cancer, making it the 8^th most commonly diagnosed cancer among Hispanic men.

The Spanish handbook is a great resource for not only patients, but also a patient’s family, friends and caregivers. More than 100,000 copies have been distributed around the country. It can be challenging to find reliable information on the internet, but the handbook consolidates important information about understanding bladder cancer and possible treatment options in one place. It was written specifically for patients, so the information given hopes to answer patients’ questions. Now that the information is in available in Spanish, more Americans will be able to more easily read about and understand the disease with which they’ve been diagnosed. The handbook is available for free. It can be downloaded, or a paper copy requested by clicking here and urology practices and hospitals can order multiple copies from our website here.

For more information about bladder cancer please visit: www.bcan.org.

Additional Resources:

American Cancer Society en Español

Intercultural Cancer Council (ICC)

National Alliance for Hispanic Health

National Hispanic Coalition on Aging

Redes En Acción: The National Latino Cancer Research Network

Article by Anna Young, BCAN Intern