Lesbian and bisexual women with breast cancer are not getting the information and support they need, according to a new report by Dr Julie Fish from De Montfort University.
 
Around 45,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK and although there is a high public awareness of breast cancer among women in general, little is known about breast cancer in lesbian and bisexual women.
 
The study investigated the experiences and attitudes of lesbian and bisexual breast cancer service users and discovered that many felt existing cancer support groups were not accessible to them; they often felt excluded by topics of conversation or the environment.
 
They also noted that it was extremely hard to find other lesbian or bisexual women to talk to about their experience of the disease. There are very few support groups available for service users and their partners and no resource materials available which specifically targets lesbian and bisexual women.
 
The report was commissioned as a way to look at how cancer inequalities can be tackled after the issue was highlighted as a key priority in the NHS Cancer Reform Strategy. This study is the first of its kind in the UK.
 
Participants also stated that they often felt uncomfortable and embarrassed when dealing with GPs and hospital staff and one woman felt her relationship was undervalued when she checked into hospital and was told that she would be put down as single because civil partnership was not an option on the form.
 
As a result of these findings Dr Fish is now calling for better support and information to be available for lesbian and bisexual women who are diagnosed and training to be available to GPs and other health professionals.
 
Dr Fish said:
“This study has found that although there is a comprehensive range of information on cancer, none of the resources address the concerns of many lesbian and bisexual women.
 
“A key Department of Health priority is to ensure that all people with cancer get the information they need at the time of diagnosis and treatment. This group of women have been overlooked in cancer services and this research helps to make their needs visible.”
 
Sir Mike Richards, Professor of Palliative Care for NCAT (NHS National Cancer Action Team), said:
"I warmly welcome this report which highlights the experiences of lesbian and bisexual women with breast cancer and carers whose partners had died of the disease.  It provides valuable insights into how services might be improved to meet their needs.

“NHS and voluntary service providers will wish to take account of these findings in planning their services, especially as estimates indicate that over 2000 lesbian and bisexual women may be diagnosed with breast cancer in this country each year."

For more information on NCAT view:
www.cancerinfo.nhs.uk