Dealing with a gynecologic cancer diagnosis if you’re a member of the LGBTQIA+ community may mean facing additional hurdles and challenges, ranging from barriers to diagnosis, to trouble accessing health insurance, and finding a doctor who understands your particular health concerns. Know that you are not alone and that OCRA is committed to meeting your and your loved ones’ unique needs.
OCRA supports all within the gynecologic cancer community which includes survivors of any age, ethnicity, race, religion, socioeconomic level, sexuality, and gender identity. We are committed to investing in groundbreaking research, advocating for your needs (and the needs of your community), and supporting you and your family every step of the way through diagnosis, treatment, and beyond.
Discussing your gender or sexual identity with medical professionals can be fraught. You may experience fear of discrimination or being misunderstood. You may also have a lot of questions: When should you tell them? How should you broach the conversation? Do you even have to disclose this information in the first place?
The answer is yes, because if your doctor knows this information, they can provide you with better care. Members of LGBTQIA+ communities may also be at increased risk for certain health conditions, so it’s important for your doctor to know how you identify. Learn more about how to initiate open communication with your doctor and other medical professionals, and why this is important.
For medical professionals who want to learn more about how to treat your LGBTQIA+ patients, there is free training developed specifically for you in collaboration with the Society of Gynecologic Oncology. The eight modules are each 45 minutes long.
Additional Support and Resources
Ensures health equity for LGBTQIA+ patients and health professionals through advocacy, education, and research.
Addresses the needs of LGBTQIA+ cancer survivors and those at risk, offering regular cancer support groups.
National LGBT Cancer Project: An online support community for LGBTQIA+ cancer survivorship and caregiving.
Offers patient stories and information for LGBTQIA+ individuals with cancer and their loved ones, committed to inclusive cancer care.
Produces a good blog with information about what people who identify as LGBTQ+ should know about cancer.
Our goal at OCRA is to use inclusive language throughout our materials. Some statistics and research data, however, may still refer specifically to “women” or “female” to align with the research that is currently available. For instance, the fact that 1 in 87 women will get ovarian cancer in their lifetime would be inaccurate if it read “1 in 87 people.” We strive to ensure our language reflects the diverse communities affected by ovarian cancer, and foster an inclusive environment where all individuals impacted feel seen and are supported.
B. Dana Kivel’s plea to the ovarian cancer community, medical professionals, and the world, as a person whose gender doesn’t align with what one would expect of an ovarian cancer patient, is ‘See me. Listen to me.”
Janice Murphy is a woman whose mission is to live life to the fullest while making sure that healthcare providers know that ovarian cancer may pose a greater risk for older lesbian women.
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