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Walk to End Bladder Cancer

Partner in Progress: Ferring Pharmaceuticals

BCAN is proud to partner with Ferring Pharmaceuticals in our shared quest to create better todays and more tomorrows for bladder cancer patients and families.

The following content is sponsored by Ferring.

Erica and Dan, Care Partners – A Shared Journey

For families facing serious illness, a big part of the journey often rests on the shoulders of dedicated care partners. When Fran was diagnosed with non–muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), her daughter Erica, a nurse, and Fran’s husband Dan, embarked on a shared journey of support. It all started with a lot of questions—and fear.

“I was devastated,” Erica remembers, “Being a nurse, I see a lot of scary things.”

Video about their shared journey

Dan felt the same way. “It was a shock, frankly. I was upset because she had a different type of cancer years before, and I didn’t know much about bladder cancer.” Right away, Dan and Erica dug into the research, wanting to be a useful resource for Fran. This quick action was the first of many in their important role as caregivers.

“We have to really invest time in asking the doctor questions, doing our research about the treatments, and being able to keep everybody in the loop.” —Dan

Side by side, united in care

Their strong promise to help Fran went beyond just being there emotionally—it changed their daily lives. “You want to be positive, and also you want to take care of yourself,” Dan says, so he made a big personal change, losing 150 pounds. “I couldn’t take care of her that well…and I’m able to do things
a lot better now and be more supportive of her.” Dan also stepped into the role of go-between, serving as the vital conduit for communication among the doctor, his wife, and their family.  

When Fran’s first treatment, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), didn’t work, they felt very let down, pushing them to quickly look for other options. Erica admits, “I was scared that I was going to lose my mom at that point.” Yet, Fran’s resilience was clear, and she developed a mindset to be positive. Erica’s nursing background also gave her hope. “I see amazing advancements and new medications coming out. It really gives me hope that [my mom is] going to continue on a good path.” Erica often changed her schedule to go with Fran to treatment appointments, offering practical help and turning treatment days into fun days with crossword puzzles and going out to lunch.

“I think as far as being there for my mom, my biggest role is as a nurse…
translating things for her, and then as a daughter and a caretaker.” —Erica

Erica recounts how her mom had been at a bladder cancer conference when she found out that she was having a recurrence. “That was the recurrence when she started ADSTILADRIN® (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg). She could not have been at a better place because she connected with people and learned about ADSTILADRIN.” This marked a huge turning point in their journey, providing reassurance for Fran and her care partners.

Relief and renewal

ADSTILADRIN brought promise. ADSTILADRIN is the FIRST and ONLY FDA-approved gene therapy delivered directly to the bladder for high-risk non–muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) when BCG doesn’t work. It wasn’t more chemotherapy, it wouldn’t change Fran’s genes, and it wouldn’t impact her entire body. Instead, this localized gene therapy could be delivered without combination of other drugs. Fran only had to receive a treatment once every 3 months, a schedule that didn’t hinder her lifestyle.

While individual results may vary, today, Fran is cancer free and continues to receive treatment with ADSTILADRIN—just once every 3 months. The treatment’s success also meant she could keep her independence. This was something Erica had strongly pushed for, even when she first thought more aggressive steps might be needed. For Erica and Dan, this progress was more than just a medical win: it was a personal triumph. They had faced fear, uncertainty, and setbacks together, never giving up. This shared effort—built on careful research, emotional strength, and practical help—turned a hard time into a powerful example of family love and a shared victory.

“Throughout treatment they would build me up and fill me with hope.” —Fran

Learn more about ADSTILADRIN and Ferring Uro-Oncology’s commitment to those with bladder cancer at adstiladrin.com and ferringusa.com.

Please click for Important Safety Information and full Prescribing Information.

Indication

ADSTILADRIN is a treatment for adults who have all the following:

  • High-risk non–muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)
  • Cancer that is not responding to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy
  • Carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without other high-grade tumors

Important Safety Information

Who should not receive ADSTILADRIN?
Do not receive ADSTILADRIN if you have a sensitivity to interferon alfa or any of its components.

What is the most important information I should know about ADSTILADRIN?
Individuals who are immunosuppressed or immune-deficient should not prepare, administer, receive or come into contact with ADSTILADRIN.

What should I tell my healthcare provider?
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What are the possible side effects of ADSTILADRIN?
The most common side effects of ADSTILADRIN include:
Urinary discharge, fatigue, bladder spasm, urgency to urinate, and blood in your urine.

These are not all the possible side effects of ADSTILADRIN. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-332-1088. You may also contact Ferring Pharmaceuticals at 1-888-FERRING.

What other information should I know about using ADSTILADRIN?
For 2 days following treatment, voided urine should be disinfected for 15 minutes with an equal volume of bleach before flushing.

For more important information, call 1-888-337-7464.  Please see full Prescribing Information.

Webinar: Expanding Treatment Options for Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: Introducing a novel therapy for those who do not respond to BCG

Watch a webinar with urologist researcher Colin P. Dinney MD, Chairman of the Department of Urology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, as he explains this new treatment option that uses the patient’s own bladder wall cells to enhance the body’s natural defenses to fight cancer.

Ferring Access Support—Patient Assistance Program (PAP)

Ferring’s Patient Assistance Program offers patient assistance, coverage support, and other valuable resources for eligible uninsured/underinsured patients, including:

  • Referrals to third-party organizations including 501(c)(3) charities, patient support and education groups, and state health exchange resources
  • Help with scheduling appointments and staying on top of treatment

Clinical Trials

Listed below are bladder cancer clinical trials sponsored by Ferring. Click to read more about the trials, including summaries, eligibility and trial locations.

Caregiver Handbook

BCAN has developed an online and print Tips for Caregivers Handbook in collaboration with BCAN’s Bladder Cancer Carer Committee to support bladder cancer patient caregivers with helpful tools and resources to navigate these challenging journeys.

Download your copy here.

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