Providing equitable and inclusive cancer care to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and/or queer (LGBTIQ+), requires a thorough understanding of their unique experiences and needs.
The Out with Cancer study uncovered critical insights from 430 LGBTIQ+ cancer survivors, 131 informal carers, and 357 healthcare professionals. The study also examined the websites of 61 Australian cancer organisations to assess their inclusivity.
The findings reveal alarming levels of distress among LGBTIQ+ cancer survivors - three to six times higher than the general cancer population, driven by discrimination, minority stress, and gaps in care. Despite these challenges, LGBTIQ+ individuals demonstrate incredible resilience through advocacy and community support.
Join this talk to explore the unique barriers and opportunities in cancer care, share key findings, and learn about the systemic changes informed by the study to improve the inclusivity of cancer care. The findings have been translated into practical resources for LGBTIQ+ people with cancer, their carers, and healthcare professionals.
Developed in collaboration with LGBTIQ+ people, LGBTIQ+ and cancer organisations, cancer clinicians, and researchers, these include resources from Cancer Council, Breast Cancer Network Australia, Canteen, and McGrath Foundation.
Actionable recommendations for improving cancer care at both individual and system levels, will also be discussed, to ensure cultural safety and inclusivity for LGBTIQ+ people and their carers in cancer care.
Janette Perz is a Professor in the Translational Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University. She researches in the field of reproductive and sexual health with a particular focus on gendered experiences, subjectivity and identity.
Dr Power’s research focuses on marginalised population health, specialising in sexual health, disability and LGBTQ health and using arts-based, mixed-methods, and co-creation approaches. Dr Power served as a Research Associate on the Australian Research Council Linkage funded research project, The Out with Cancer Study, a four- year endeavour examining LGBTIQ+ peoples experiences of cancer. She is an Associate Editor of the journal Women’s Reproductive Health and a board member for the Australian Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Society for Menstrual Cycle Research.
