Video of Sima P Porten MD, MPH, about BCAN’s role in the bladder cancer community

BCAN—For and By Bladder Cancer Patients

Sima P. Porten, MD, MPH, Associate Professor in Residence, UCSF discuss why the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) is an important organization for patients, providers and researchers- an organization for and by bladder cancer patients that fosters collaboration.

Transcript: BCAN or the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network was founded in 2005 and is one of the only national advocacy networks, primarily driven by patients and driven for patients. It’s a really, really special organization because it really keeps the patient experience, priorities and journey through the treatment of bladder cancer at the center in everything that it does. And I’ve been very lucky to be a part of this organization. I primarily started out as a John Quale Travel fellow, and that means that I was given the opportunity to come and present my research at the scientific think tank, which is this wonderful, very special meeting where world renowned researchers from the United States and also abroad come to exchange scientific ideas in a very collaborative space with medical oncologist, urologist, basic scientist, environmental scientist, patient advocates, which is a really, really important part of the process as well as now our advanced practice providers and NPs and our community urologists as well, because they’re important partners in taking care of all of our patients.