Derry charities team up for new LGBTQIA+ cancer leaflet

Two local charities have joined forces to create an innovative new cancer screening leaflet for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The content of the leaflet was shaped over the course of an eight week programme with members of The Rainbow Project in Derry, hosted by Hive Cancer Support in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Champions.

Hive Cancer Support hopes that by amplifying LGBTQ+ voices and cocreating resources with them, more people will feel empowered to engage with screening and take control of their health.

Michelle McLaren, Development Officer with Hive Cancer Support, commented: ““Too many LGBTQIA+ people in our community still feel invisible, judged or unsafe when it comes to cancer screening.

“By listening deeply over eight weeks and co-creating this leaflet together, we are sending a clear message: your experiences matter, your health matters, and you deserve cancer care that is respectful, inclusive and free from discrimination.”

During the project the participants took part in therapeutic and creative sessions designed to explore their lived experiences of cancer screening and the barriers they have faced in the past.

The sessions also looked at the impact of gender discrimination, homophobia and transphobia on accessing care.

The lived experiences of The Rainbow Project members gave vital insight into the fears, misconceptions and practical obstacles that prevent many LGBTQ+ people from attending screening or seeking help early.

This learning was used to shape the design, language and content of a new trifold leaflet focused on cancer signs and symptoms, the importance of early detection, and how to navigate screening services in a way that feels safe and inclusive.

Jade Fleming Cancer Champions Project Officer commented: “"It was important to us that LGBTQIA+ people were at the heart of this process, ensuring the resource was shaped by the community, for the community, and reflected their experiences of accessing cancer screening and care.

“LGBTQIA+ people face additional barriers to cancer screening, from not being sent routine screening invitations to the gendered nature of healthcare settings. Bringing these experiences into the development of the leaflet has helped us better understand what can make accessing cancer information and support more difficult for the community.

“We are proud of what we have created together with HIVE, and hope this resource will help LGBTQIA+ people access screenings with increased confidence: seeing your community reflected in health information can make a real difference."

The leaflet is part of Hive Cancer Support’s wider World Cancer Day initiative to close the cancer care gap for marginalised communities, and has now be distributed through local LGBTQ+ organisations, healthcare providers and community venues across the city.

This project was funded by Macmillian Cancer Support.

For more information on Hive Cancer Support go to www.hivecancersupport.com