Open Access Journal Article

Special Healthcare Services for Lgbt Cancer Patients

by H. Mitchell a  and  R. Jeffrey b,*
a
Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom.
b
Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom.
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
CI  2022 1(2):11; https://doi.org/10.58567/ci01020002
Received: 3 December 2022 / Accepted: 12 December 2022 / Published Online: 20 December 2022
View Full-Text
Download PDF

Abstract

In the UK, a concern of prejudice, as well as a lack of gender identity and sexual orientation documentation, implies that LGBT persons mostly hidden to health-care providers. One of a review was carried out to examine primary literature on the psychological support requirements of LGBT cancer patients when receive treatment and after. Important findings: Key topics that have been mentioned include the negative impact on mental health, health care professional education and the absence of inclusive support groups, the pervasiveness of discriminatory practices within healthcare services. The research demonstrates how LGBT cancer patients are being failed by healthcare professionals in terms of psychological support, resulting in unmet requirements. There are some suggestions use to guarantee an LGBT inclusive atmosphere in cancer care, as well as the development of support programmes for LGBT people with cancer. Practical connotation: LGBT wellness and awareness education should be offered for HCP personnel. The registration and tracking of gender identity and sexual orientation is critical to ensuring that LGBT persons are not 'invisible' in cancer, radiation, and continued studies. LGBT cancer groups and services should be established, since information from the study indicated that LGBT individuals are actively seeking these services.

Keywords: LGBT; Psychosocial; Supportive care; Cancer; Oncology; Healthcare;
Copyright: © 2022 by Mitchell and Jeffrey. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Show Figures

Share and Cite

ACS Style
Mitchell, H.; Jeffrey, R. Special Healthcare Services for Lgbt Cancer Patients. Cancer Insight, 2022, 1, 11. https://doi.org/10.58567/ci01020002
AMA Style
Mitchell H, Jeffrey R. Special Healthcare Services for Lgbt Cancer Patients. Cancer Insight; 2022, 1(2):11. https://doi.org/10.58567/ci01020002
Chicago/Turabian Style
Mitchell, H.; Jeffrey, R. 2022. "Special Healthcare Services for Lgbt Cancer Patients" Cancer Insight 1, no.2:11. https://doi.org/10.58567/ci01020002
APA style
Mitchell, H., & Jeffrey, R. (2022). Special Healthcare Services for Lgbt Cancer Patients. Cancer Insight, 1(2), 11. https://doi.org/10.58567/ci01020002

Article Metrics

Article Access Statistics

References

  1. Acquaviva K. LGBTQ-Inclusive Hospice and Palliative Care e practical guide to transforming professional practice. New York: Harrington Press; 2017.
  2. Office for National Statistics. Sexual orientation, UK: 2017. London: HMSO; 2019. Available from, https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/ culturalidentity/sexuality/bulletins/sexualidentityuk/2017#things-you-needto-know-about-this-release.
  3. Office for National Statistics. Integrated household survey. Available from, www. ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/sexuality/ bulletins/integratedhouseholdsurvey/2015-10-01; 2014.
  4. Hunt R, Fish J. Prescription for change, lesbian and bisexual women's health check 2008. Stonewall and De Montford University; 2008.
  5. Bolderston A, Ralph S. Improving the healthcare experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patients. Radiography 2016;3(22):e207e11. doi:10.1016/j.radi.2016.04.011.
  6. Stonewall. LGBT fact and figures. Available from, https://www.stonewall.org.uk/ media/lgbt-facts-and-figures; 2019.
  7. Macmillan. The emerging picture: LGBT people with cancer. Available from, https://www.macmillan.org.uk/_images/lgbt-people-with-cancer_tcm9- 282785.pdf; 2014.
  8. Lehavot K, Simoni J. The impact of minority stress on mental health and substance use among sexual minority women. J.Consult.Clin. Psychol. 2011;79(2): 159e70. doi:10.1037/a0022839.
  9. Shahab L, Brown J, Hagger-Johnson G, et al. Sexual orientation identity and tobacco and hazardous alcohol use: Findings from a cross-sectional English population survey. BMJ open 2017;7(10):e015058. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015058.
  10. Fallin A, Goodin A, Lee YO. Smoking characteristics among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults. Prev Med 2015;(74):123e30.
  11. Roberts L, Heyworth B, Gilliver A, et al. Smoking and vaping among lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people: Results of a Proud2BSmokefree survey. Cancer Nurs Pract 2017;16(10):35e41. doi:10.7748/ cnp.2017.e1435.
  12. Mitchell M, Howarth C, Kotecha M, et al. Equality and human Rights commission: Sexual orientation research review (Research report 34); 2008. Available from, https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/research_report_34_sexual_orientation_research_review.pdf.
  13. Macmillian. Worried about cancer: Lifestyle risk factors. Available from, https:// www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/worried-aboutcancer/causes-and-risk-factors#lifestyle_risk_factors_and_reducing_your_risk; 2020.
  14. Cancer Research UK. Cancer incidence by age. Available from, https://www. cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/incidence/ age#heading-Zero; 2019.
  15. Hudson-Sharp N, Matcalf H. Inequality among lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender groups in the UK: a review of evidence. National Institute of Economic and Social Research; 2016. Available from, https://assets.publishing.service. gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/539682/ 160719_REPORT_LGBT_evidence_review_NIESR_FINALPDF.pdf.
  16. Somerville C. Unhealthy attitudes: The treatment of LGBT people within health and social care services. YouGov & Stonewall report. Available from, https://www. stonewall.org.uk/system/files/unhealthy_attitudes.pdf; 2015.
  17. Frost D, Lehavot K, Meyer I. Minority stress and physical health among sexual minority individuals. J Behav Med 2015;38(1):1e8. doi:10.1007/ s10865-013-9523-8.
  18. Stonewall. Mental health: a Stonewall health briefing. Available from, https:// www.stonewall.org.uk/system/files/Mental_Health_Stonewall_Health_ Briefing__2012_.pdf; 2012.
  19. Mehnert A, Hartung T, Friedrich M, et al. One in two cancer patients is significantly distressed: Prevalence and indicators of distress. Psycho Oncol 2018;27(1):75e82. doi:10.1002/pon.4464.
  20. Stonewall. Lesbian, gay and bisexual people later on in life. Available from, https://www.stonewall.org.uk/documents/lgb_in_later_life_final.pdf; 2010.
  21. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. CASP qualitative checklist. 2018 [online] Available at: https://casp-uk.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/CASPQualitative-Checklist-2018.pdf.
  22. Effective Public Health Practice Project. Quality assessment tool for quantitative studies. Hamilton, ON: Effective Public Health Practice Project; 1998. Available from: https://merst.ca/ephpp/.
  23. Specialist Unit for Review Evidence (SURE). Questions to assist with the critical appraisal of crosssectional studies. Available at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/insrv/ libraries/sure/checklists.html; 2018.
  24. Allensworth-Davies D, Talcott J, Heeren T, et al. The health effects of masculine self-esteem following treatment for localized prostate cancer among gay men. LGBT Health 2016;3(1).
  25. Burton H, Pilkington P, Bridge P. Evaluating the perceptions of the transgender and non binary communites of pelvic radiotherapy side effect information booklets. Radiography 2020;26:122e6.
  26. Kamen C, Alpert A, Margolies L, et al. “Treat us with dignity”: a qualitative study of the experiences and recommendations of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) patients with cancer. Support Care Canc 2019:1e8. doi:10.1007/s00520-018-4535-0.
  27. Banerjee S, Walters C, Staley J, et al. Knowledge, beliefs, and communication behaviour of oncology health-care providers (HCPs) regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) patient health care. J Health Commun 2018;23(4).
  28. McConkey R, Holborn C. Exploring the lived experience of gay men with prostate cancer: a phenomenological study. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2018;33:62e9.
  29. Shetty G, Sanchez J, Lancaster J, et al. Oncology healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors regarding LGBT health. Patient Educ Counsel 2016;99(10):1676e84. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2016.05.004
  30. Taylor E, Bryson M. Cancer Margins: trans* and gender non-conforming people’s access to knowledge, experience of cancer health and decision making. LGBT Health 2016;3(1).
  31. Kamen C, Mustian K, Dozier A, et al. Disparities in psychological distress impacting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cancer survivors. Psycho Oncol 2015;24(11):1384e91. doi:10.1002/pon.3746.
  32. Katz A. Gay and Lesbian patients with cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum 2009;36(2).
  33. Boehmer U, Glickman M, Milton J, et al. Health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors of different sexual orientations. Qual Life Res 2012;21(2):225e36. doi:10.1007/s11136-011-9947-y.
  34. Brown M, McElroy J. Unmet support needs of sexual and gender minority breast cancer survivors. Support Care Canc 2018;26(4):1189e96. doi:10.1007/s00520-017-3941-z.
  35. Carr E. The personal experience of LGBT patients with cancer. Semin Oncol Nurs 2018;34(1):72e9. doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2017.12.004.
  36. Fish J, Williamson I. Exploring lesbian, gay and bisexual patients' accounts of their experiences of cancer care in the UK. Eur J Cancer Care 2018;(27):e12501. doi:10.1111/ecc.12501.
  37. Baughman A, Clark M, Boehmer U. Experiences and concerns of lesbian, gay, or bisexual survivors of colorectal cancer. (Report). Oncol Nurs Forum 2017;44(3): 350e7. doi:10.1188/17.0NF.350-357.
  38. Fobair P, Koopman C, DimiceliI S, et al. Psychosocial intervention for lesbians with primary breast cancer. Psycho Oncol 2002;(11):427e38. doi:10.1002/pon.624.
  39. Wandrey R, Qualls W, Mosack K. Are mainstream support services meeting the needs of sexual minority women with breast cancer? An exploration of the perspectives and experiences of users of an online support forum. J Gay Lesb Soc Serv 2016;28(4):336e48. doi:10.1080/ 10538720.2016.1221783.
  40. Doran D, Williamson S, Wright KM, et al. “Its not just about prostate cancer, its about being a gay man”: A qualitative study of gay men's experience of healthcare provision in the UK. Eur J Cancer Care 2017:27.
  41. Capistrant B, Torres B, Merengwa E, West W, et al. Caregiving and social support for gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer. Psycho Oncol 2016;25(11).
  42. Hulbert-Williams N, Plumpton C, Flowers P, et al. The cancer care experiences of gay, lesbian and bisexual patients: a secondary analysis of data from the UK Cancer Patient Experience Survey. Eur J Cancer Care 2017;26(4). doi:10.1111/ecc.12670.
  43. Seay J, Mitteldorf D, Yankie A, et al. Survivorship care needs among LGBT cancer survivors. J Psychosoc Oncol 2018;36(4): 393e405. doi:10.1080/07347332.2018.1447528.
  44. Vali F, Maginn R, Fish J, et al. Supporting LGBT people affected by cancer. Macmillan; 2017. Available from https://www. macmillan.org.uk/_images/sharing-good-practice-spring-2017_tcm9-322255. pdf.
  45. Williams H, Varney J, Taylor J, et al. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans public health outcomes Framework companion document. Available from https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/LGBT%20Public %20Health%20Outcomes%20Framework%20Companion%20Doc.pdf; 2016.
  46. Benbow S, Kingston P. Seeing people as people: Final report of the trans age Project. Age UK. 2018.
  47. Bachmann C, Gooch B. LGBT in Britain e hate crime and discrimination. Stonewall. Available from, https://www.stonewall.org.uk/system/files/lgbt_in_ britain_hate_crime.pdf; 2017.
  48. Radix A, Maingi S. LGBT Cultural competence and interventions to help oncology nurses and other healthcare providers. Semin Oncol Nurs 2018;34(1): 80e9.
  49. Goerling U, Mehnert A. Psycho-oncology (2nd ed. 2018). 2018. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-64310-6.
  50. LGBT Foundation. Mental health. 2015. Available from lgbt.foundation/ information-advice/mental-health/.
  51. Gray R, Fitch M, Davis C, et al. A qualitative study of breast cancer self-help groups. Psycho Oncol 1997;6:279e89. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099- 1611(199712)6:43.0.CO;2e0.
  52. Setoyama Y, Yamazaki Y, Nakayama K. Comparing support to breast cancer patients from online communities and face-to-face support groups. Patient Educ Counsel 2011;85(2):e95e100. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2010.11.008.
  53. Bristowe K, Hodson M, Wee B, et al. Recommendations to reduce inequalities for LGBT people facing advanced illness: ACCESSCare national qualitative interview study. Palliat Med 2018;32(1): 23e35.
  54. Stevinson C, Lydon A, Amir Z. Cancer support group participation in the United Kingdom: a national survey. Support Care Canc 2011;19(5):675e83. doi:10.1007/s00520-010-0887-9.
  55. Kelly P, Meara A, Hyer M, et al. Understanding the type of support offered within the caregiver, family and spiritual/religious contexts of cancer patients. J Pain Symptom Manag 2019;58(1).
  56. NHS Digital. DCB2094: Sexual orientation monitoring. 2017. Available from https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/information-standards/ information-standards-and-data-collections-including-extractions/publications-and-notifications/standards-and-collections/dcb2094-sexualorientation-monitoring.
  57. LGBT Foundation. Monitoring sexual orientation, gender and trans status. Available from https://lgbt.foundation/resources-and-information/policy/ guidance/monitoring.