Barriers to Cancer Care in the LGBTQ+ Community

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) individuals are a medically underserved population.
• This group experiences significant disparities in cancer care, impacting outcomes across the continuum of care.
• Limited data exists on cancer incidence and mortality within the LGBTQIA community due to insufficient data collection in national registries and surveys.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the barriers to cancer care access for the LGBTQIA population.
• To identify and analyze personal, provider, and system-level factors contributing to cancer care disparities.
• To inform strategies for improving cancer care equity for LGBTQIA individuals.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative or quantitative analysis of existing literature and data.
• Examination of national cancer registries and surveys for data gaps related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Categorization and analysis of barriers into personal, provider, and system-level factors.

Main Results:

• LGBTQIA individuals face multifaceted barriers to cancer care.
• These barriers negatively affect cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Specific data limitations hinder a comprehensive understanding of cancer burden in this population.

Conclusions:

• Addressing personal, provider, and system barriers is crucial for reducing cancer disparities in the LGBTQIA community.
• Improved data collection on sexual orientation and gender identity in cancer surveillance is essential.
• Targeted interventions are needed to ensure equitable cancer care for LGBTQIA individuals.