Stars urging people to be more cancer aware during LGBT+ Awareness Week

As part of LGBTQ Health Awareness Week this week, Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance has teamed up with stars of the Cheshire-based soap Hollyoaks to promote cancer awareness.

The actors are giving advice to LGBT+ people in a series of videos, including urging them to get screened.

Annie Wallace (who plays Sally St Claire), Stephanie Waring (Cindy Cunningham), Gregory Finnegan (James Nightingale) and Parry Glasspool (Harry Thompson) have each recorded messages emphasising the importance of early detection via regular self-checks and attending cancer screening programmes.

The videos will go out daily during the awareness week.

Cancer can affect anyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity; but lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) people can experience unfair and avoidable barriers throughout their cancer journey, which may lead to poorer outcomes and experiences.

LGBTQ Health Awareness Week (21^st-25^th March) is an annual awareness week, which aims to bring attention to the health inequalities that affect the LGBTQ community.

For example:   

• While there is a lack of routine recording of sexual orientation and gender identity in healthcare data, the available data indicates cancer screening coverage is lower in LGBTQ communities. A lack of information (or misinformation) on who is eligible, not receiving an invite, and gender dysphoria are just some of the barriers that may prevent someone attending screening that could potentially find cancer at an earlier stage when it’s more treatable.
• A review by Macmillan found lesbian, gay and bisexual people were less likely to receive the information and support they need after receiving a diagnosis of cancer. They were also less likely to receive information about self-help and support groups compared to heterosexual people with cancer.
• Barriers to accessing care can include discrimination or a perception of potential discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, or a lack of understanding on how to adequately treat the person. Consequently, 14% of LGBTQ people have avoided wider healthcare treatment for fear of discrimination because they are LGBTQ; and 33% have felt their GP did not meet their needs as an LGBT+ person.
• 40% of trans people have had at least one negative experience when accessing or trying to access healthcare services; and, 80% have experienced anxiety before accessing hospital treatment due to fears of insensitivity, misgendering and discrimination.

Ellie Gunner-Taylor, CMCA Macmillan Quality Improvement Officer (Patient Experience and Health Inequalities), said: “Improvements in education programmes, including enhanced communication skills and creating LGBTQ inclusive environments are all vital in reducing the disparity in LGBTQ cancer care.

“CMCA has begun working with community organisations across Cheshire and Merseyside to identify and address the needs of people who are undergoing cancer care and experience health inequalities. Part of this work will involve collaborating with LGBTQ organisations, who can advise and support with improvements within these areas.”

Information on who is eligible for cervical, breast and bowel cancer screening can be found here. For more information, visit the NHS or LGBT Foundation website.

Information on how to reduce LGBTQ health inequalities can be found here.

To watch the videos, please follow CMCA's Facebook page here.