30th December 2007, 09:26 am
A new report states that African American women’s risk for breast cancer is underestimated when compared to white women. The formula that doctors use to calculate a woman’s risk of breast cancer underestimates the danger for black women most of the time and especially for those age 50 and older — the age when they are most likely to benefit from screening tests and protective drugs, according to the first major reassessment of the widely used tool. Malecare and our LGBT cancer project calls for research to determine the durability of these findings for Lesbian and Bisexual African American women.
http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/djm223
28th December 2007, 07:00 am
A study conducted by the International Lesbian and Gay Association (IGLA) has found that lesbians have the highest concentration of risk factors for breast cancer of any subset of women in the world, as reported by the Sydney Star Observer.
Of the main contributing factors, many lesbians over 40 do not get routine mammograms, do self-breast exams, or have a clinical breast exam. This therefore means the cancer may not be diagnosed early when it is most curable.
In addition to the main outcome, the report also indicated that many lesbians and same-sex-attracted women do not reveal their sexual orientation to their health practitioner. This invisibility in health situations was invariably implicated by the IGLA in having a further impact on the psychological well-being of the women.
The findings of the report, published in the Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health Report, have led to a joint initiative between ACON and the NSW Cancer Council - the formation of the Lesbians and Cancer Project.
21st December 2007, 12:30 pm
When it comes to stress or depression during the holiday season, lesbians tend to feel both at higher levels than their heterosexual counterparts. In a new survey conducted by Harris Interactive, four out of five (80%) of lesbian adults say they tend to feel more stressed around the holidays while 64% of the heterosexual women surveyed said they tend to feel more stressed. Additionally, while half (51%) of lesbians said they tend to feel depressed around the holidays, only 36% of heterosexual women said they did.
“Stress and depression have major impacts on treatments for cancer, said Dr. Linda Spooner, Chair of The Mautner Project’s Board of Directors and a practicing physician in Washington, D.C. “More research and more funding for lesbian health initiatives would enable the community to gauge where lesbians are found on the health issues continuum, and further advance health and wellness for this population,” said Spooner.
“As the developer of our first national nonprofit LGBT cancer project, Malecare calls on mental health and medical researchers to do more to include lesbians in their studies so that our community as well as lesbians individually can understand how to do more to take care of themselves and prevent disease.”
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071218/20071218005128.html?.v=1
20th December 2007, 11:16 am
Results of a new study find that cancer patients who have health insurance tend to live longer than cancer patients who do not. Since LGBT cancer survivors often struggle to get recognized as spouses on employee health insurance, this means that LGBT people are at a greater risk of death than heterosexual people, because of diminished access to healthcare. According to the researchers of the study, this is the case due to uninsured people waiting too long before going to their doctors, whereby allowing time for their cancers to spread to other parts of their bodies.
http://www.dogflu.ca/12202007/06/insured_cancer_patients_live_longer_than_uninsured”><font
14th December 2007, 09:35 pm
Dana’s story line on the L-Word ( our LGBT cancer project volunteers are big fans! ) has inspired an anonymous “L Word” fan to donate $1 million to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.The gift will be used to establish the Erin Daniels and Leisha Hailey Fund for Breast Cancer. Good that tv can inspire rather than we have to wait until someone really dies in order to get a large donation. Hey, maybe she/he would like to donate to OutWithCancer http://www.outwithcancer ? hint hint.
13th December 2007, 05:09 pm
Robert Eads is a transgender man with cervical cancer. And, Southern Comfort is a wonderful documentary about the last year of Eads’ life.
Eads holds on to his life long enough to attend Southern Comfort, an annual convention for transgender individuals, held in Ravinia, Georgia. This convention is where Eads met his “chosen family.”
The beauty of the movie lies not in the tragedy of Eads` death or with the injustice he was forced to tolerate, but with the humor, strength and perseverance with which he lived his life.
Southern Comfort” is an independent film directed, produced and edited by Kate Davis in 2001.
10th December 2007, 10:19 am
Malecare’s LGBT cancer project, OutWithCancer , marches into it’s third year of service to our community. Our OutWithCancer LGBT social network continues to be a rich and dynamic community of cancer survivors. Our various web sites and publications continue to be fountain of information and authority on cancer issues. And, proudly, OutWithCancer continues to draw national attention. Let no one doubt that LGBT cancer survivors have a national nonprofit. Our work is powerful and conducted with extreme economy. OutWithCancer is here to stay and grow.
OutWithCancer is focused on us, the diagnosed, the caregivers, the lovers, the friends and the family of all LGBT people diagnosed with cancer.
A warm hug of thanks to all whose spirit fills our work. And, to you, the inner glow of happiness and well being that OutWithCancer brings to all we meet and help.
4th December 2007, 04:26 am
For three years in a row, Girl4GIRL has been hosting the Pacific Northwest’s largest monthly all-women’s events and supporting the LGBT Community with RockForCancer fundraisers. Girl4GIRL was awarded 2006 NWSource Top Pick for Gay/Lesbian Dance Club and voted Top 10 nationwide by Planetout. Owner Chris Chappon lost her mother after she was misdiagnosed with cancer and passed away at a young age of 50. Lets try to get all of our clubs to help fund LGBT cancer projects.
3rd December 2007, 09:45 am
Anal cancer affects men and women, but it has a greater prevalence among men who have sex with men. About 35 in every 100,000 gay and bisexual men develop anal cancer, compared to less than one in every 100,000 heterosexual men.
Anal cancers are skin cancers. The exact cause of anal cancer is unknown. HPV and anogenital warts are a significant risk factor. This includes past and current infections. Some strains of HPV that cause larger warts are not associated with cancer. Most men that develop anal cancer are over 50 years old, although coinfection with HIV increases the chance of early development.
Many men have no visible symptoms of anal cancer. However, because the cancer is strongly associated with HPV infection, a history of anogenital warts is likely. Although most lesions are benign, any visible anal sore or bump should be examined. They may be a sign that others have developed in the anal canal.
Other signs include the following:
Abnormal discharge from the anus
Bleeding from the rectum and anus
Itching of the anus
Pain or pressure around the anus
Sore around the anus that does not heal.
Bottom line, ask your doctor or local clinic to access your risk.
1st December 2007, 11:50 am
Today is World AIDS Day. We mark this day with moments of silence, each kept with more volume than the loudest shout. Malecare, OutWithCancer and all of the volunteers of Malecare’s LGBT cancer project hold hands in our cancer survivor community with those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
