LGBTQI+ communities represent an “ignored epidemic” and a “growing and medically underserved population” in cancer care.

Previous research suggests LGBTQI+ communities experience a disproportionate cancer burden, and face unique psychosocial challenges, such as higher rates of cancer related distress and sexual concerns, lower levels of family support, difficulties in accessing general health care or cancer services, gaps in patient provider communication and lower satisfaction with cancer care.

“Research is needed to understand these disparities and the complexity of LGBTI+ experience of survivorship across tumour streams, from diagnosis through to palliative care.”

Recently, the American Society of Clinical Oncology recognised this health disparity and concluded there is “insufficient knowledge about the health care needs, outcomes, lived experiences and effective interventions to improve outcomes” for LGBTQI+ populations. As a result, health care providers and policy makers are ill-equipped to provide culturally-competent advice or assistance to LGBTQI+ cancer survivors and their families.