For many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and asexual (LGBTIQA+) people, negative experiences and discrimination throughout their lives can mean they don’t feel safe seeking health care.
According to the Australian Cancer Plan, this means members of the community experience gaps in information when communicating with health providers and report lower levels of satisfaction with cancer care.
It’s estimated that over 7500 LGBTIQA+ Australians are diagnosed with cancer each year, and approximately 23,000 are cancer survivors. Learn more
Clinical Nurse Specialist Julie McGirr says that everyone has the right to safe and supportive cancer care, and that calling the 13 11 20 cancer information and support line is a great first step to finding it.
“The LGBTIQA+ community can trust they’ll receive appropriate and sensitive support,” Julie says. “The whole 13 11 20 team has done cultural awareness training and are prepared to assist members of the community with the unique challenges they face.”
Continue reading for the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions from the LGBTIQA+ community.
Learn more about LGBTIQA+ people and cancer
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to tell my treatment team about my identity?
Knowing more about you and how your past experiences have affected your health, including issues around past trauma, sexuality, fertility and carer support, can help your cancer care team provide safe care that is appropriate to your situation. It also makes it easier to recognise and include same-gender partners.
Many health professionals are experienced in talking about health issues confidentially. If the information is not already on your medical records and you think it is relevant to your cancer care, you may want to tell them about your:
- sexual orientation
- gender
- pronouns
- variations of sex characteristics
- medical history such as past surgeries, being on hormone blockers, hormone replacement therapy or taking gender affirming hormones
- concerns about preserving fertility
- concerns about sex and intimacy
- any history of trauma, including medical trauma.
You may be reluctant to disclose these details, especially if previous bad experiences have affected your trust in health professionals or you are not “out” in all areas of your life. But being open and honest with your cancer care team:
- helps them consider all possibilities when trying to diagnose the cause of your symptoms (such as ovarian cancer in a trans man)
- ensures they have all the information they need to offer informed and safe care for you
- means they can connect you with support services that are right for you and your family.
Ultimately, it is up to you to decide how much information you share with others. You may choose to tell only health professionals you see regularly for treatment or check-ups.
How can I find LGBTIQA+ friendly cancer services?
LGBTIQA+ friendly health services create an environment that feels safe and is supportive, respectful and non-judgemental. They don’t make assumptions about pronouns, your body, partners and families of choice. This is known as culturally safe care.
Connecting with a health service that focuses on the needs of LGBTIQA+ people will mean you can trust them to support you. They should include anyone you wish to be part of your care plan, including your partner/s, family or chosen family.
To spot an LGBTIQA friendly service:
- Look for signs of inclusion such as LGBTIQA+ flags, rainbow ticks, posters and photos or statements about the service’s commitment to the community
- Find out about their experience and policies by contacting the service to ask if they regularly see LGBTIQA+ people and have an anti-discriminatory policy
- Ask for recommendations from friends or your GP
- Check a service’s forms and website for inclusive language and details about training or accreditation
- Trust your judgement. Sometimes you might just have a feeling about whether a health professional or service will be right for you. It’s okay to trust your instincts.
What do I do if I don’t feel comfortable with my team?
Finding health professionals you trust is important at all stages, from diagnosis and treatment to follow-up care.
If you are treated as a public patient in a public hospital, you will be seen by the specialist/s appointed by the hospital. If you have concerns, you may be able to talk to the head of the department, a patient representative or a patient advocate.
Some hospitals have an LGBTIQA+ patient navigator. This person provides culturally-safe support to LGBTIQA+ people and advises health professionals about inclusive care. Look for their details on the hospital’s website.
You have the right to make a complaint about any aspect of your health care. You can usually find details about the complaints process on the health care facility’s website. You can also check with the cancer care coordinator, nursing unit manager or social worker, or one of the nurses looking after you.
If you are unhappy about the ethical or professional conduct of a health service provider, you can contact the Health Complaints Commissioner.
Where can I get support?
Most people going through cancer find it helpful to have support from others. This can include your family, friends or wider community. You might lean on your partner/s or chosen family for support and comfort, particularly if you have limited or no contact with your family of origin. Not everyone feels they need support from others; some people are happy to manage alone.
Ways to find support include:
- Speak to your general practitioner (GP), social worker, psychologist and other health professionals. They can link you with local services.
- Contact QLife to connect with others in a safe space.
- Use the member directory compiled by LGBTIQ+ Health Australia to find good sources of support.
- Chat with other young people aged 12–25 diagnosed with cancer at Canteen Connect.
- Call Cancer Council 13 11 20 or visit the Online Community.
Find support services
