Barriers to Care Encountered by Sexual Minority Breast Cancer Survivors – B-CESS

Research output: Other contribution

Abstract

Advancements in early diagnosis and treatment have led to increasing survival rates for breast cancer (BC). Significant gaps are noted in scientific evidence of short and long-term health outcomes in cancer survivorship care among those who identify as a sexual minority (SM). These gaps are perpetuated as sexual orientation data is rarely collected in surveillance systems, clinical settings, or research studies. SM PHBC are more likely to experience delays in diagnosis, decline oncologist-recommended treatment modalities, and have a BC recurrence. Further, SM PHBC lack appropriate social supports within the medical system and from breast cancer survivor organizations.[6] Failure to better understand the BC survivorship experiences of this underserved and understudied population increases barriers to equitable treatment, which in turn may negatively impact health and quality of life among SM PHBC. This application, submitted in response to PAR-23-292 - Improving Care and Outcomes for Cancer Survivors from SM Populations, is guided by the Health Equity Promotion Model, a framework for exploring how interactions between social position and individual, structural, and environmental contexts intersect with health-promoting and adverse pathways to influence health outcomes in SM communities. The overall objective of this application is to robustly characterize SM PHBC experiences. Due to the absence of sexual orientation data in cancer registries and other sources, participants will be recruited from existing federally-funded studies of SM adults (i.e., Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study – Fredriksen-Goldsen, PI, R01AG026526; Vanderbilt University Social Networks, Aging, and Policy Study—McKay, PI, #R0AG063771), and SM and non-SM BC survivors will be recruited through SAGE USA, the Missouri cancer registry, ResearchMatch.org, and via a social media campaign. We will collect survey data on demographics, BC diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, barriers to access, and health status at time of survey. Study findings will provide guidance to clinicians about the unique needs of SM BC survivors to reduce or eliminate barriers and improve clinical care for SM BC survivors. Clinical care improvements, in the long term, will promote health equity by reducing the contribution of late effects of cancer to adverse outcomes in SM BC survivors.
Original languageUndefined
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024

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