Bladder Cancer Advocacy

Winter 2010

In the last few months, several bladder cancer survivors have volunteered to represent the bladder cancer community on a national level.  We want to thank them all for their time and commitment to the cause!

Rick Bangs – As the Bladder Cancer Patient Advocate for the Southwest Oncology Group, Rick meets regularly with oncologists and urological oncologists who are running large bladder cancer clinical trials. He currently is working to improve patient participation in bladder cancer clinical trials and giving feedback from a patient perspective on trials being considered.

Randy Layne – Randy was nominated by BCAN to be the bladder cancer patient representative on the FDA’s Oncology Drug Advisory Committee for a public hearing on the contrast drug needed for fluorescent/blue light cystoscopy.   (The drug is known as Hexvix in Europe.)   As a patient representative, Randy became a temporary voting member of the committee – which included oncologists, urologists, and biostatisticians – that recommended the FDA approve the intervesical use of this contrast solution for enhanced cystoscopic diagnostic imaging.

Robert Lipman – Bob testified at the FDA public hearing on Hexvix, offering his opinion of the importance and necessity of developing new, scientifically-verified diagnostic tests for bladder cancer.

Michael Jones – Michael, a retired pathologist, was nominated by BCAN to help the Department of Defense evaluate research proposals submitted to their Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP).  Of the $16 million appropriated by Congress for this program in fiscal year 2009, $8 million was for grants for genetic cancer research (including bladder cancer research) that “related to exposures unique to the military.”  As a consumer reviewer, Michael joined prominent scientists as a full voting member at meetings to determine how these research funds will be spent.