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Walk to End Bladder Cancer

Policy Advocacy

BCAN is the leading voice for patients and families facing bladder cancer. BCAN’s policy advocacy actions work to advance bladder cancer research and improve access to bladder cancer treatment.

Through strategic planning, consistent lobbying presence, and community engagement, BCAN seeks to advance legislative, executive, and regulatory changes that improve the quality of life of bladder cancer patients and survivors.

BCAN’s Policy Advocacy Priorities

  • Federal Funding for Bladder Cancer Research

    Bladder cancer is one of the most costly and persistent cancers in the United States, with over 84,000 new cases diagnosed annually and nearly 800,000 Americans currently living with the disease. Despite its significant impact and prevalence, bladder cancer receives far less federal research funding and attention than other cancers. BCAN is committed to working with federal agencies, name the Department of Defense (DoD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to ensure sustained federal investment in bladder cancer research.

    BCAN will work with other organizations to secure a permanent funding line for bladder cancer within the CDMRP and to protect and expand NIH support for critical bladder cancer research.

    Our accomplishments:

    BCAN works with other organizations to ensure a permanent funding line within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) for bladder cancer.

    2025

    March

    • Met with newly elected Members of Congress to introduce BCAN’s policy priorities, including continued funding for the Bladder Cancer Research Program (BCRP).
    • Collaborated with coalition partners to facilitate “Dear Colleague” letters in response to proposed federal research funding cuts, urging sustained medical research investment.
    • Signed on to community letters advocating for federal investment in biomedical research, cancer prevention, and access to quality care. (Copies of these letters are available on this page.)

    June

    July

    • BCAN launched a new $1 million Funding Continuity Grant to help sustain bladder cancer research projects disrupted by gaps in federal funding.
    • With the support of 40 other national organizations, BCAN submits a community letter urging the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to include robust funding for cancer research in the final appropriations bill.
    • BCAN submitted an external witness testimony to the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.
    • In June, BCAN endorsed the Medical Research For Our Troops Act, which seeks to restore full funding to the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).
    • BCAN staff met with newly elected Members of Congress to introduce BCAN’s policy priorities, including continued funding for the Bladder Cancer Research Program (BCRP) within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).
    • In response to proposed federal cuts to research funding, BCAN worked with coalition partners to facilitate “Dear Colleague” letters urging support for medical research investments.
    • BCAN joined numerous community sign-on letters advocating for federal investment in biomedical research, cancer prevention, and access to quality care. Copies of these letters can be found on this page.

     

  • Supporting Veterans with Bladder Cancer

    Bladder cancer is the 4th most common cancer among veterans. Veterans are at a higher risk for bladder cancer due to exposure to occupational and environmental conditions and hazardous chemicals during military service. The PACT Act is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. It addresses health care, presumption of service-connection, research, resources, and other matters related to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service.

    BCAN advocates for policies and programs that ensure veterans and service members with bladder cancer receive timely access to health care and benefits.

    Our PACT Act accomplishments:

    2025

    • On January 1, 2025, the VA published on the Federal Register the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) establishing a “Presumptive Service Connection for Bladder, Ureter, and Related Genitourinary Cancers Due to Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter.”
    • On January 2, 2025, BCAN issued a statement in its newsletter.
    • On January 13, 2025, BCAN filed a comment letter on the Federal Register acknowledging the Department of Veteran Affair for adding bladder cancer to the list of presumptive conditions for veterans exposed to particulate matter.  Click here to read BCAN’s comment letter.

    2024

    • Met with Congressional offices and staff from the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs creating awareness that bladder cancer was not in the PACT ACT 2022 and received information to help navigate the presumptions for the service-connection review process.
    • Surveyed the BCAN community of patients and survivors to identify veterans diagnosed with bladder cancer. If you’re a veteran and have bladder cancer, tell us your story.
    • Reached out to veteran organizations to form a working coalition.
    • With the guidance of our clinical and research community, a repository of scientific literature was created and evidence was identified to substantiate the positive association between bladder cancer and burn pit exposure.
    • On February 26, 2024, BCAN was notified that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough, directed a formal evaluation of urinary bladder and ureteral cancers. In response, BCAN, in collaboration with select members of our Scientific Advisory Board and affiliated experts, is serving as a scientific reference for the VA as it reviews scientific data to determine whether the evidence supports the addition of bladder as a presumptive condition for those veterans exposed to burn pits.
    • From June 2024- November 2024, BCAN monitored the Federal Registry for any announcements from the VA.  During this time, BCAN also continued to meet with congressional offices and staff from the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs to gain insight into the outcome of the formal evaluation of urinary and ureteral cancers.
    • November 10, 2024, in honor of Veterans Day BCAN launched a Call to Action asking our community to contact their representatives and advocate for the VA to recognize bladder cancer as a presumptive condition related to burn pit exposure.
  • Oncology Medication Shortages

    Address the Critical Need for BCG and Oncology Drugs

    Medication shortages place an immense burden on patients and healthcare systems alike, impacting treatment decisions, patient outcomes, quality of life, and participation in clinical trials. Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a cornerstone in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, has faced severe scarcity in the United States due to various factors, including increased usage, production and shipping difficulties, regulatory burdens, and capacity shutdowns.  The medication shortage has extended to other crucial cancer drugs like cisplatin and carboplatin, which are also used to treat bladder cancer.

    BCAN is monitoring and addressing the supply and availability of BCG and oncology drugs at both the federal and state levels as necessary.

BCAN Comments, Statements and Sign-On Letters

BCAN signs on to or sends letters to Congress and federal agencies to support our policy advocacy goals and those of our constituents.

  • 2025
    • BCAN submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the proposed rule on the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program, advocating to preserve access to ostomy supplies.
    • BCAN submitted a community letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to include robust funding for cancer research in the final appropriations bill.
    • BCAN’s submitted Testimony to the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies addressing funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.
    • BCAN signed a community letter to Congressional appropriators led by the One Voice Against Cancer Coalition (OVAC) coalition requesting a modest funding increase to cancer research programs under NIH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for FY2026.
    • BCAN signed a letter to Congressional appropriators requesting restoration of cuts to Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) programs enacted by the FY 2025 CR, as well as a funding increase of at least 5 percent across individual CDMRP programs for FY 2026. This letter was led by the Defense Health Research Consortium.
    • BCAN signed a community letter in support of establishing the Bladder Cancer CDMRP line under DoD appropriations. This letter was led by the American Urological Association (AUA).
    • BCAN signed on to the cancer community letter supporting the work of the CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control directed at HHS and OMB.
    • BCAN worked successfully with Rep. Murphy’s office to introduce a Resolution to recognize May as Bladder Cancer Awareness Month.
  • 2024

      • Sign-on letter One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) FY24 Appropriations Request Letter urging to prioritize funding for cancer research and prevention in the Fiscal Year 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.

      • Sign-on letter supporting the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) proposed rules on eliminating menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and cigars.

      • Sign-on letter supporting the establishment of an $8 million Bladder Cancer Research Program at the Department of Defense (DoD) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.

More about BCAN Advocacy Policy

Coalitions to which BCAN belongs to at the national level:

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