LGBQ cancer patients shed light on difference in care
Posted 20 April 2017 - 11:06
A nurse academic has created a new site sharing the unique experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer (LGBQ) people with cancer
differences LGBQ patients face during care and treatment
University of Manchester lecturer in nursing Maurice Nagington, using funds from Macmillan Cancer Support, filmed a series of interviews with LGBQ people to raise awareness of differences in their care and has now released on a special website.
The site is designed to be used by health professionals as a resource to guide their contact with LGBQ people, with videos covering topics such as sex and sexuality, support and bereavement and migration.
Sharing
In one video, Alan Edwards tells of a frosty experience with a consultant who refused to shake his hand, in another video, a woman tells of how she felt isolated in UK because her family – who had not accepted her for being queer – were living in South Africa.
Dr Nagington said: 'LGBQ people with cancer often experience services which are designed for straight people. For instance this can include advice on hair loss or makeup which is targeted at making women look particularly feminine – when this may not be the way they usually present – and not offering any such services to men.
'Brave'
'Our interviewees often approached misunderstandings about their sexuality with humour and were brave and honest in telling their stories. I think their overall advice would be that professionals should remember that not all patients are straight and sometimes what fits one group isn’t appropriate for all.
'I hope to expand the site in the future to give more detail on the sexual challenges that lesbian and bisexual women can face, as well as interviewing trans-people about their experiences.'
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