24th March 2008, 11:52 am
LGBT people diagnosed with cancer report different qualities of heathcare services than do heterosexual people diagnosed with cancer. A new study published by the Canadian government has found that the use of healthcare services and self-assessment of health status differ depending on sexual orientation.
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-003-XIE/82-003-XIE2008001.pdf
The study, which included responses from 346,000 gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, appears in Health Reports, a publication of the Canadian government’s statistics bureau.
21st March 2008, 09:42 am
Great little story about the Lesbian Cancer Initiative in NYC.
At 41, Cristina Moldow is in many ways, an almost stereotypical New York lesbian. She lives in Park Slope and plays for the Jaguars team in the Prospect Park Women’s Softball League. But Moldow is also a healer, a social worker, and an acupuncturist, who has spent a significant amount of her professional and personal life fighting a little talked about aspect of lesbian life - cancer. http://gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18173525&brd=2729&pag=461&dept_id=590556
14th March 2008, 02:26 pm
The Petition to Make Prostate Cancer a national priority launched today. Part of Malecare’s prostate cancer project, http://www.prostatecancerpetition.org should help all gay, bisexual men and some transgender women in making prostate cancer treatment LGBT friendly. Please sign on at http://www.prostatecancerpetition.org
12th March 2008, 03:02 pm
There are approximately 70,000 people aged 15-39 diagnosed with cancer every year. Many of these young adults are self identified as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transexual. For over two decades there has been little or no improvement in survival for this age group. SeventyK is an Advocacy Campaign that presents an Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Bill of Rights to hopefully be established as a standard for care to meet the needs of this underserved population. Please help by visiting http://www.seventyk.org 
7th March 2008, 06:26 pm
Anal cancer is rare, but men who are living with HIV have an increased risk of developing it. It is associated with the HPV virus that causes anal warts and presents with bleeding, mucus, a painful lump or fecal incontinence. Many people have no symptoms. If you are concerned, for any reason, please see your healthcare provider. Why worry. Why wait.
1st March 2008, 05:02 am
A woman’s risk of ovarian cancer increases with age as more than 80 percent of cases of ovarian cancer occur in women over the age of 50 years. Hereditary factors can also add to the risk.
The good news is that there is no evidence that lesbians are at increased risk of ovarian cancer. However, research has shown that having children and breastfeeding may have a protective effect against the disease, according to Australian National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre director Dr Helen Zorbas. http://www.ssonet.com.au/display.asp?ArticleID=7915
“The greater the number of pregnancies, the greater the protection,” Zorbas said. “The data on the incidence of ovarian cancer has not been broken down according to sexuality.”
SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER
• abdominal bloating
• abdominal or back pain
• appetite loss or feeling full
• changes in toilet habits
• unexplained weight gain or loss
• indigestion or heartburn
• fatigue
See you doctor or clinic if you have any concerns.
