LGBTQ+ Cancer Care: Welcoming Strategies

On December 7, 2021 the PA Action Coalition, National Nurse-Led Care Consortium, the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, and the National LGBT Cancer Network presented the LGBTQ+ Cancer Care: Welcoming Strategies webinar.

LGBTQ+ communities experience health disparities, including limited access to health care, increased risk for certain disease types, and an inherent bias in the health system. As frontline caregivers, oncology care providers are central to successful patient outcomes and are in an important position to advocate for, support and guide LGBTQ+ patients through their cancer journey. Nurses can make a difference in LGBTQ+ individuals' lives by making cancer care a safer and more welcoming place for LGBTQ+ cancer survivors and their families/support systems. This can be accomplished by obtaining training on providing LGBTQ+ quality care in a welcoming and non-judgmental way, ultimately improving health equity.

During this training we reviewed what is known about LGBTQ+ cancer health disparities and cancer screening guidelines for LGBTQ+ communities. We also shared results from Out: The National Cancer Survey including data and stories from LGBTQ cancer survivors as well as best practices and practitioner-level interventions to improve cancer care to LGBTQ+ communities. This webinar was supported by AARP of Lehigh Valley, PA.