ABSTRACT
The study reported in this article was initiated in response to the paucity of literature focused on Canadian lesbians with cancer. The aims of the study were broadly defined: to increase understanding of Canadian lesbians' experiences with cancer and cancer care, and to suggest directions for change such that lesbians with cancer might be better supported by service providers and lesbian communities. The qualitative study, set in Ontario, Canada, employed a participatory action research model. Twenty-six lesbians were interviewed about their experiences of cancer and cancer care. This article reports research participants' narratives about lesbian community. Findings reveal the complex and sometimes contradictory ways that lesbian community unfolds in the lives of lesbians with cancer. While most participants experienced robust and competent community support, participants also reported instances of isolation and disconnection linked to fear of cancer, homophobia in the broader community, and patterns of exclusion within lesbian communities. As well, while lesbian community norms and values appeared to buffer the negative effects of treatment-related physical changes, such norms also manifested as prescriptions for lesbians with cancer. Findings affirmed the value of creating networks among lesbians with cancer within a context of increased accessibility to mainstream cancer services.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/psychology , Health Behavior , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Homosexuality, Female/psychology , Interpersonal Relations , Life Style , Social Support , Adaptation, Psychological , Adult , Breast Neoplasms/therapy , Canada , Communication Barriers , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Loneliness , Middle Aged , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Social Environment , Surveys and Questionnaires , Women's HealthABSTRACT
This participatory, qualitative study examines "what is lesbian" about lesbians' experiences of cancer and cancer care. Twenty-six lesbians were interviewed about their experiences of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and support, and their feelings and perceptions about shifts in identity, body, sexuality, and relationships. This paper highlights how homophobia and heterosexism, in contemporary nursing practice and as historical features of the health-care system, shape the experiences of lesbians with cancer. A minority of participants were targeted, denied standard care, or had aspects of their identity and social context relevant to cancer care dismissed. The majority commented on the lack of attention to lesbian realities in psychosocial support. A legacy of heterosexism appears to prompt strategic efforts to avoid homophobia and also appears to foster gratitude for equitable care. Nurse educators, practitioners, and policy-makers have critical roles to play in the accessibility of cancer care.
