Experiences and Concerns of Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual Survivors of Colorectal Cancer.
Allyson Baughman, Melissa A Clark, Ulrike Boehmer
PMID 28635972WHAT IT FOUND
Eight lesbian, gay, or bisexual colorectal cancer survivors described economic strain, isolation, and providers assuming heterosexuality.
They disclosed identity more to nurses than doctors, and relied on chosen networks rather than spouses.
Key findings
01Survivors reported economic effects through employment, health insurance, and housing.
02Social support was a problem during and after treatment, and participants described support as distant.
03Participants were more likely to disclose sexual orientation to nurses than to doctors, and reported providers making heteronormative assumptions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The sample was small and purposively recruited, so the findings cannot be generalized to all colorectal cancer survivors. The study did not include a heterosexual comparison group, so it cannot show whether these experiences are unique to sexual minority survivors. All participants had stage III disease within five years of diagnosis, so earlier or later stages may differ. Themes required at least three of eight participants to mention them, so single experiences were not analyzed. Participants were recruited through LGB and cancer organizations, which may select for people comfortable discussing identity.
Declared interests
The supplied text does not include an author conflict-of-interest statement. The journal metadata lists NIH extramural research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that asking about sexual orientation improves outcomes or that LGB survivors fare worse than heterosexual survivors. The study had eight purposively sampled survivors, no heterosexual comparison group, and did not test any care intervention.