The National LGBT Cancer Network (formerly called "The LGBT Cancer Project") is a nonprofit organization launched in September 2007. It is one of the first programs in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

that addresses the needs of lesbian,

gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...

bisexual Bisexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender. It may also be defined to include romantic or sexual attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, wh ...

and

transgender A transgender (often abbreviated as trans) person is someone whose gender identity or gender expression does not correspond with their sex assigned at birth. Many transgender people experience dysphoria, which they seek to alleviate through ...

(

LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term i ...

)

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal bl ...

survivors and those at risk and the only one founded and directed by members of the LGBT community. The Network was founded by Liz Margolies, LCSW.

Establishment

There are a number of local lesbian cancer programs and one national lesbian health organization, Mautner Project. The National LGBT Cancer Network contains an online cancer screening and referral program, entitled "Take Care of That Body", original articles on cancer risks and survivorship experiences of the LGBT community, and links to resources for both LGBT people and health professionals. The Network's goals are #Educating LGBT people about their increased cancer risks and the importance of screening/early detection #Training healthcare providers to offer more culturally competent.safe and welcoming care to LGBT patients #Advocating for LGBT inclusion in national cancer organizations, research and the media.

Recent work with the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation

In 2010, the National LGBT Cancer Network was selected to develop an LGBT cultural competence in healthcare curriculum that became mandatory for all 38,000 employees of the municipal hospital system.

Cancer In The LGBT Community

Lesbians, gay men and transgender men and women experience disparities in availability of health insurance and are considered to be at increased risk for multiple types of cancer, based on behaviors such as high smoking and drinking rates, high fat diet, receptive anal intercourse and positive HIV status. Increased risks are coupled with decreased screening behaviors, resulting in cancers being detected at a later stage when it is more difficult to treat. Decreased screening is linked to lower insurance rates and perceived homophobia in health care. LGBT people experience extra challenges in cancer survivorship, including acceptance of their families by oncologists and emergency rooms and information about the effect of treatment on sexuality, relationships and fertility.

References

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External links

The National LGBT Cancer Network homepage
LGBT health organizations in the United States Medical and health organizations based in New York (state) Cancer organizations based in the United States

Establishment

Recent work with the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation

Cancer In The LGBT Community

See also

References

External links