Difference between revisions of "LGBTQ Cancer Research and Support"

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There are several LGBTQ individuals who are actively engaged in Cancer research and support.  This activity includes academic and practical research in the field, social work, fundraising, and documentary filmmaking.  The areas of research and support includes breast cancer, prostate cancer, and many others.
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The field of LGBTQ cancer is a relatively new area of interest and research, attracting activists, treatment providers, and policy advocates who are working on change in a variety of fronts. Cancer is often addressed as a continuum, including prevention/risk, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and end of life care. People are working towards understanding and alleviating LGBTQ health disparities on all points along this range.
  
One area of research includes the study of whether LGBTQ individuals have the same incidence of cancer as the general population. Issues such as homophobia and cultural differences may impact the community's access to assessment and treatment.  This is particularly evident in less developed countries and other areas where homosexuals are discriminated against. Research has shown that LGBTQ individuals are often more hesitant to see treatment for fear of sharing personal information about their sexual relationships and behavior. This may increase the risk of the LGBTQ community to cancer, and indeed a UK study has shown that gay men report higher cancer rates than straight men (see story below).
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LGBTQ people have increased cancer risks from behaviors that are responses to the stress and stigma of living as sexual and gender minorities. For example, tobacco use is nearly double that seen in the general population and smoking is a leading cause of multiple cancers. LGBTQ people are also far more likely to use and abuse alcohol, carry the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), less likely to have biological children and have other cancer risk factors. Due to problems with access to care and feared discrimination, LGBTQ people are also less likely to get regular recommended cancer screenings. Meanwhile no national cancer registries collect information about gender identity and sexual orientation. Once diagnosed with cancer, LGBTQ people face additional challenges in survivorship, like finding support and receiving information about cancer’s impact on LGBTQ sexuality, fertility and relationships.
  
Another important issue is the training of healthcare providers in the cancer field to service the unique needs of the LGBTQ community, given these characteristics.  As a result of marginalization and intolerance, there are the additional health risks of substance abuse, depression, diet, and smoking that must be considered.
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To make a meaningful difference, Individual, policy and social changes are all required. In the meantime, cancer organizations need to learn to address the needs of LGBTQ clients and healthcare workers need to be trained in LGBTQ cultural competence. At the present time, there is only one organization in the U.S. that is focused on LGBT cancer - the National LGBT Cancer Network; most other work is accomplished through university research, individual healthcare systems and larger LGBTQadvocacy organizations.
  
LGBTQ orrganizations that work in the field of cancer research include LGBTQ Cancer Research Network, The National LGBT Cancer Project, and Out With Cancer.
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There are numerous LGBTQ individuals in the cancer research field.  While they do not necessarily focus solely on the LGBTQ community itself, they undoubtedly have a specific interest in how cancer uniquely affects the community.  They specialize not only in research, but also fundraising, education, support and awareness.
  
LGBTQ inclusion in the process of cancer research and healthcare support is critical to addressing the needs of the LGBTQ community.  We have identified the following LGBTQ individuals who have made, or are making, notable contributions in this field of research and support:  
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We have identified the following LGBTQ individuals who have made, or are making, notable contributions in this field of research, policy, training and support:
  
* [[Jack Andraka]], United States - researcher, cancer detection
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'''Canada'''
* [[Carolyn Bartozzi]], United States - chemist and cancer researcher
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* [[Mary Bryson]], Canada - Professor and principal investigator of the Cancer’s Margins project (CIHR, which studies cancer health knowledge)  
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* [[Mary Bryson]] - Professor and principal investigator of the Cancer’s Margins project (CIHR, which studies cancer health knowledge)
* [[Eduardo Lopez Collazo]], Spain - Scientific Director, IdiPAZ, a cancer research organization
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* [[Chad Goldman]] - Co-founder, CauseForce, organizer of the 'Weekend To End Breast Cancer' fundraiser
* [[Chad Goldman]], Canada - Co-founder, CauseForce, organizer of the 'Weekend To End Breast Cancer' fundraiser
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* [[Peg Norman]] - documentary filmmaker on breast cancer, 'My Left Breast'
* [[Catherine White Holman]], Canada - social worker and activist
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* [[Brian Pendleton]] - Co-founder, CauseForce, organizer of the 'Weekend to End Breast Cancer' fundraiser
* [[Lawrence Isaacson]], Great Britain - Chair, World Cancer Research Fund
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* [[Catherine White Holman]] - social worker and activist
* [[Nancy Mahon]], United States - Chair, President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS
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* [[Liz Margolies]], United States - Founder & CEO, National LGBTQ Cancer Network
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'''Great Britain'''
* [[Peg Norman]], Canada - documentary filmmaker on breast cancer, 'My Left Breast'
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* [[Dan Pallotta]], United States - fundraiser for cancer research
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* [[Julie Fish]] - De Montfort University, research addressing LGBTQ cancer inequities
* [[Brian Pendleton]], Canada - Co-founder, CauseForce, organizer of the 'Weekend to End Breast Cancer' fundraiser
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* [[Laurence Isaacson]] - Chair, World Cancer Research Fund
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'''Spain'''
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* [[Eduardo Lopez Collazo]] - Scientific Director, IdiPAZ, a cancer research organization
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'''United States'''
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* [[Jack Andraka]] - researcher, cancer detection
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* [[Carolyn Bertozzi]] - chemist and cancer researcher
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* [[Ulrike Boehmer]] - Associate Professor, Boston University, researching LGBTQ cancer incidence and survivorship
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* [[Barbara Brenner]] - former Executive Director, Breast Cancer Action
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* [[Ann Fonfa]] - founder and President, Annie Appleseed Project, offering information on complementary, alternative cancer therapies
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* [[Stephen Goldstone]] - Medical Doctor, specializing in ano/rectal disorders in the LGBTQ community
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* [[Paul Hastings]], CEO of Nkarta Therapeutics
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* [[Suzanne Haynes]] - Chair of the Federal Interagency Working Group on Women's Health and Environment
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* [[Kristen Hege]] - academic, Senior Vice President of Bristol-Myers Squibb
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* [[Charles Kamen]] - Professor and HIV/cancer researcher
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* [[Susan Love]] - Oncologist and founder of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation
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* [[Nancy Mahon]] - Chair, President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS
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* [[Liz Margolies]] - Founder & CEO, National LGBTQ Cancer Network
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* [[Dan Pallotta]] - fundraiser for cancer research
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* [[Laura Shawver]], CEO of Silverback Therapeutics and founder of The Clearity Foundation
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==See Also==
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* [[Global LGBTQ HIV/AIDS Activists]]
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* [[LGBTQ Government Ministers of Health]]
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* [[Prominent Medical Practitioners Who Identify as LGBTQ]]
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* [[LGBTQ Participants in Pharmaceutical, Vaccine and Biotech Studies]]
  
 
==Further Reading/Research==
 
==Further Reading/Research==
  
* http://www.cancer-network.org/
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* 'Smoking Out a Deadly Threat Tobacco Use in the LGBT Community' ([http://www.lung.org/associations/states/california/assets/pdfs/smoking-out-a-deadly-threat.pdf www.lung.org/associations/states/california/assets/pdfs/smoking-out-a-deadly-threat.pdf])
* http://lgbtcancer.com/
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* http://www.outwithcancer.com/
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* Alcohol and Cancer Risk, National Cancer Institute ([http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/alcohol www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/alcohol])
* http://www.bbc.com/news/health-13295300
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* Issues the LGBT Population Faces when it comes to Cancer, Liz Margolies ([http://medicine.yale.edu/cancer/patient/answers/programsbytopic.aspx www.medicine/yale/edu/cancer/patient/answers/programsbytopic.aspx])
  
 
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Latest revision as of 14:00, 31 March 2024

The field of LGBTQ cancer is a relatively new area of interest and research, attracting activists, treatment providers, and policy advocates who are working on change in a variety of fronts. Cancer is often addressed as a continuum, including prevention/risk, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and end of life care. People are working towards understanding and alleviating LGBTQ health disparities on all points along this range.

LGBTQ people have increased cancer risks from behaviors that are responses to the stress and stigma of living as sexual and gender minorities. For example, tobacco use is nearly double that seen in the general population and smoking is a leading cause of multiple cancers. LGBTQ people are also far more likely to use and abuse alcohol, carry the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), less likely to have biological children and have other cancer risk factors. Due to problems with access to care and feared discrimination, LGBTQ people are also less likely to get regular recommended cancer screenings. Meanwhile no national cancer registries collect information about gender identity and sexual orientation. Once diagnosed with cancer, LGBTQ people face additional challenges in survivorship, like finding support and receiving information about cancer’s impact on LGBTQ sexuality, fertility and relationships.

To make a meaningful difference, Individual, policy and social changes are all required. In the meantime, cancer organizations need to learn to address the needs of LGBTQ clients and healthcare workers need to be trained in LGBTQ cultural competence. At the present time, there is only one organization in the U.S. that is focused on LGBT cancer - the National LGBT Cancer Network; most other work is accomplished through university research, individual healthcare systems and larger LGBTQadvocacy organizations.

There are numerous LGBTQ individuals in the cancer research field. While they do not necessarily focus solely on the LGBTQ community itself, they undoubtedly have a specific interest in how cancer uniquely affects the community. They specialize not only in research, but also fundraising, education, support and awareness.

We have identified the following LGBTQ individuals who have made, or are making, notable contributions in this field of research, policy, training and support:

Canada

  • Mary Bryson - Professor and principal investigator of the Cancer’s Margins project (CIHR, which studies cancer health knowledge)
  • Chad Goldman - Co-founder, CauseForce, organizer of the 'Weekend To End Breast Cancer' fundraiser
  • Peg Norman - documentary filmmaker on breast cancer, 'My Left Breast'
  • Brian Pendleton - Co-founder, CauseForce, organizer of the 'Weekend to End Breast Cancer' fundraiser
  • Catherine White Holman - social worker and activist

Great Britain

  • Julie Fish - De Montfort University, research addressing LGBTQ cancer inequities
  • Laurence Isaacson - Chair, World Cancer Research Fund

Spain

United States

  • Jack Andraka - researcher, cancer detection
  • Carolyn Bertozzi - chemist and cancer researcher
  • Ulrike Boehmer - Associate Professor, Boston University, researching LGBTQ cancer incidence and survivorship
  • Barbara Brenner - former Executive Director, Breast Cancer Action
  • Ann Fonfa - founder and President, Annie Appleseed Project, offering information on complementary, alternative cancer therapies
  • Stephen Goldstone - Medical Doctor, specializing in ano/rectal disorders in the LGBTQ community
  • Paul Hastings, CEO of Nkarta Therapeutics
  • Suzanne Haynes - Chair of the Federal Interagency Working Group on Women's Health and Environment
  • Kristen Hege - academic, Senior Vice President of Bristol-Myers Squibb
  • Charles Kamen - Professor and HIV/cancer researcher
  • Susan Love - Oncologist and founder of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation
  • Nancy Mahon - Chair, President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS
  • Liz Margolies - Founder & CEO, National LGBTQ Cancer Network
  • Dan Pallotta - fundraiser for cancer research
  • Laura Shawver, CEO of Silverback Therapeutics and founder of The Clearity Foundation

See Also

Further Reading/Research


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