2026/06/15

Over 1,600 people take to the streets of Bilbao to raise awareness of prostate cancer

The Bilbao estuary once again served as a backdrop for civic engagement, hosting a day that combined sport, solidarity, and public health outreach centred on men’s health.

On Sunday, June 14th, more than 1,600 participants took part in the second edition of “Bilbao en Marcha Contra el Cáncer”, organised by the Spanish Association Against Cancer in Bizkaia. The four-kilometre route unfolded in a festive atmosphere under high temperatures, with both the start and finish located in the vicinity of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.

The aim of the initiative was to reinforce the message that prostate cancer, the most common cancer among men, can be successfully treated if detected at an early stage, although the lack of regular check-ups remains one of the main challenges.

In the Basque Country, around 1,800 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year, making it the most frequent cancer in men and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Most cases diagnosed in time have a favourable prognosis thanks to medical advances, although approximately 10% exhibit aggressive behaviour and may develop metastases, accounting for a significant proportion of associated mortality.

This is a disease that, in its early stages, is usually silent and asymptomatic, which makes detection difficult without routine screening. For this reason, early detection through simple tests such as blood PSA analysis and digital rectal examination is key to improving prognosis and treatment options.

The march brought together institutional representatives and citizens from across Bizkaia. The Mayor of Bilbao, Juan María Aburto, highlighted the need to continue advancing awareness and the normalisation of preventive check-ups among men, as well as strengthening support for oncology patients. In the same vein, Laura de Antón, Development Coordinator at the Spanish Association Against Cancer in Bizkaia, stressed the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle habits and not delaying medical consultation, particularly among individuals with a family history of the disease. The event, marked by the participation of people of different ages and from various municipalities, featured testimonies reflecting the impact of cancer on families and its human dimension.

The initiative also received support from research centres such as CIC bioGUNE, member of BRTA, whose work focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer and developing new therapeutic strategies, thereby strengthening the link between research and society.

The central message of the event was clear: prevention is key. Prostate cancer may not present symptoms in its early stages, but early detection completely changes the prognosis. Therefore, men aged 50 and over (or from 40–45 in cases of family history) are advised to undergo regular check-ups at their healthcare centre, including PSA testing, as early detection remains the most effective tool against a disease that, in many cases, can be successfully treated.

About CIC bioGUNE

The Cooperative Research Centre in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), a member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA) and located in the Bizkaia Technology Park, is a biomedical research organization conducting cutting-edge research at the interface of structural, molecular, and cellular biology, with a special focus on the molecular basis of disease, to support the development of new diagnostic methods and advanced therapies.

About BRTA

BRTA is an alliance composed of 4 cooperative research centers (CIC bioGUNE, CIC nanoGUNE, CIC biomaGUNE, and CIC energiGUNE) and 13 technology centers (Azterlan, AZTI, CEIT, CIDETEC, GAIKER, IDEKO, IKERLAN, LEARTIKER, LORTEK, NEIKER, TECNALIA, TEKNIKER, and VICOMTECH). Its objective is to develop advanced technological solutions for the Basque business ecosystem.

With the support of the Basque Government, the SPRI Group, and the Provincial Councils of the three territories, the alliance seeks to foster collaboration among its members, strengthen the conditions for generating and transferring knowledge to companies, enhance their competitiveness, and project Basque scientific and technological capabilities internationally.

BRTA has a workforce of 3,500 professionals, accounts for 22 % of Euskadi’s R&D investment, records annual revenues exceeding €300 million, and generates 100 European and international patents per year.

Spanish version