Blood cancer and LGBTQIA+ people
Access to information and treatment for blood cancer care is not equal for all Australians. Studies show that LGBTQIA+ people experience multiple challenges in accessing health care.
Knowing how and where to get help is important to support you throughout your blood cancer journey. Many hospitals and treatment centres have LGBTQIA+ flags and posters, this indicates the organisation is LGBTQIA+ inclusive. They have resources to help you navigate your life with blood cancer.
Who can help?
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia is an organisation that helps LGBTIQ+ people manage their health and access inclusive health services. They have developed a ‘Genders, Bodies & Relationships Passport’ which aims to support clear communication with health and social care services. There is information on the LGBTIQ+ Health Australia website about how the passport works.
Look for Rainbow tick organisations, they are accredited to provide inclusive care for LGBTQIA+ people. Rainbow Health Australia developed the program to make you feel safe, welcomed and included.
QLife provide a free telephone and webchat 3pm to midnight every day. It is anonymous LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for a range of issues.
DocDir is Australia’s LGBTQ+ doctor directory. Find a LGBTQ+ inclusive healthcare provider in your area.
The Cancer Council have a guide for LGBTQI+ people with cancer. There is information to help you understand and cope with a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
‘Being Ok…Being You’ is a guide developed by Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre for young people who have cancer and identify as LGBTQIA+. The guide has strategies and tools to help you navigate your cancer care.
Communication with your cancer care team
It is important your treatment team understands your values, needs and preferences for cancer care. It is your decision on which information you disclose to your treatment team about your gender, sexual orientation and/or characteristics. Being open and honest can help your treatment team provide you with the information and support you deserve.
The Cancer Council have information to help you communicate with your treatment team:
- Coming out to your cancer care team
- How to come out to your health professionals
- LGBTQI+ People and Cancer Key questions
Questions to ask
Some questions to ask your treatment team:
- Does this hospital/treatment centre have a LGBTQIA+ inclusive policy?
- Do the health care professionals caring for me have LGBTQIA+ inclusive training?
- Are there health professionals you recommend who provide LGBTQIA+ inclusive care?
- Can I bring my partner to my appointments?
- How do you collect my personal information?
- Can you refer me to LGBTQIA+ inclusive support services?
- Can I speak with someone who is LGBTQIA+ and has been diagnosed with cancer?
LGBTQIA+ information and resources
Cancer
Carers
Coping with cancer
Palliative care
Health services
References
Almost invisible: A review of inclusion of LGBTQI people with cancer in online patient information resources – ScienceDirect Attitudes, knowledge and practice behaviours of oncology health care professionals towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) patients and their carers: A mixed-methods study – ScienceDirect Disrupted identities, invisibility and precarious support: a mixed methods study of LGBTQI adolescents and young adults with cancer | BMC Public Health | Full Text (biomedcentral.com) Frontiers | LGBTQI cancer patients’ quality of life and distress: A comparison by gender, sexuality, age, cancer type and geographical remoteness (frontiersin.org) Frontiers | LGBTQI Inclusive Cancer Care: A Discourse Analytic Study of Health Care Professional, Patient and Carer Perspectives (frontiersin.org) LGBTQ Cancer Care Toolkit (primeinc.org) LGBTQ+ Cancer Survivors More Likely to Have Chronic Conditions, Disabilities – Cancer Therapy Advisor LGBTQ+ introduction | eviQ Education Out with cancer – Webinar – LGBTIQ+ Health Australia TRANS:cribing – OUTpatients Webinar: Translating findings from the ‘Out with Cancer’ study into training materials – LGBTIQ+ Health AustraliaLast updated on August 29th, 2024
Developed by the Leukaemia Foundation in consultation with people living with a blood cancer, Leukaemia Foundation support staff, haematology nursing staff and/or Australian clinical haematologists. This content is provided for information purposes only and we urge you to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis, treatment and answers to your medical questions, including the suitability of a particular therapy, service, product or treatment in your circumstances. The Leukaemia Foundation shall not bear any liability for any person relying on the materials contained on this website.