Cancer Support for LGBTQ+ community
Macmillan Cancer Support state that there are no accurate figures on the number of LGBTQ+ people living with cancer, in particular bisexual and trans people: ‘ the quality of sexual orientation recording in routinely collected health data remains poor’ and that fear of discrimination may prevent some people from being open about their sexual identity.
What we do know is that 1 in 2 of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime and 1 in 2 of people diagnosed will live for at least 10 years after diagnosis (Cancer Research UK).
Therefore, most of us will at sometime in our lives either have a diagnosis, or know someone who has - and that person might be in our family or close circle of friends.
Macmillan have worked with the LGBT Foundation and Switchboard Brighton to produce evidence that the take-up of cancer screening by LGBTQ+ people is lower than for the average population. Also, that LGBTQ+ people may not feel invited or confident to share their identity with health professionals. Macmillan have produced advice for professionals on how to make their services and support more welcoming such as more inclusive information; being aware of involving same sex partners and friends as next of kin and family.
You can find LGBTQ+ cancer support at these sites:
Macmillan : Report - LGBT People with Cancer
Macmillan LGBTIQ: online cancer Forum
Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust: Information on Smear Tests for lesbian, gay and bisexual women
Coppafeel The Brazette: Resources for Trans and Non-Binary People
Prostate Cancer: A Guide for Gay and Bi-sexual Men
Live Through This: Supporting LGBTIQ+ people affected by cancer