You deserve to be treated with respect by all the health professionals who look after you. If you find the thought of disclosing your sexual orientation, gender or intersex variation stressful, some of the following tips and suggestions may be helpful to you.
 | Decide beforehandBefore your appointment, find out more about the hospital or treatment centre you want to attend. Think about how much information you want to share and who you want to share it with. |
 | Practise conversationsYou may feel more confident talking to your health professionals if you practise what you want to say with your spouse, partner/s, family and friends. |
 | Have someone with youConsider having a support person, such as a spouse, partner/s, family member or close friend, with you to help with the discussion and to provide support. You can also request support from a healthcare professional, such as a cancer care coordinator or social worker. Your support person can help you debrief and provide assistance with making a complaint if you receive a negative reaction. If you don’t feel safe, you can choose to leave the room. |
 | Do it in writingIf you’re not a confident speaker, write down what you want to say to your health professionals. You can also ask your GP to include information about you in their referral letter to other specialists, such as your sexual orientation, intersex variation, pronouns or preferred name. |
 | Ask for privacyIf you’re in a ward or open area, ask to speak in a quiet, private place where you won’t be overheard. |
 | Share your pronounsConsider including your pronouns when you introduce yourself. You could say “My name is Parker Jones and I use they/them pronouns”. If you are misgendered, you could provide a simple correction such as “Oh, I use they/them pronouns, thanks”. Wearing a pronoun badge is another way to remind people of your pronouns |
 | Introduce your partner/sIf you have a spouse or partner/s, encourage them to come to your appointments. This lets your doctor know who’s important to you. Before your first appointment, it’s okay to phone or email your doctor to find out if they are LGBTIQA+ friendly. |
 | Try communication toolsYou can use the Genders, Bodies and Relationships Passport to make telling your health professionals about your gender, body and relationships easier. Visit LGBTIQ+ Health Australia to order a copy. |
 | Seek supportContact QLife, a national peer support and referral service for LGBTIQA+SB people. Call 1800 184 527. |
I came out as gay just before I was diagnosed. I was still very uncomfortable with myself. And then I was diagnosed with cancer and that took precedence
CARTER (GAY MAN, LEUKAEMIA)
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This resource was developed as part of the Western Sydney University Out with Cancer research project.
Prof Alison Brand, Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney and Director, Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Dr Daniel Brown, Clinical Psychologist and Researcher, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, VIC; Dr Rosalie Power, Senior Research Fellow and Deputy HDR Director, Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, NSW; Dr Sarah Bishop Browne, Palliative and Supportive Care Staff Specialist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Collette Butler, Clinical Nurse Consultant and McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Cancer Support Centre, Launceston, TAS; Prof Ada Cheung, Endocrinologist, NHMRC and Dame Kate Campbell Research Fellow and Head, Trans Health Research Group, The University of Melbourne, VIC; Dr Tiffany Daly, Radiation Oncologist, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Raymond Terrace, QLD; A/Prof Ian Faragher, The University of Melbourne and Head, Colorectal and General Surgery Unit, Western Health, VIC; Hall & Wilcox (law firm); A/Prof Peter Heathcote, Urologist, Brisbane Urology Clinic, QLD; Prof Richard Hillman, Senior Staff Specialist, HIV and Immunology, St Vincent’s Health Network, Sydney, NSW; Mads Kennedy, Project Coordinator, Silver Rainbow, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, NSW; Dr Sanjeev Kumar, Breast Cancer Medical Oncologist and Clinician Scientist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Madeline Lee, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Luke Mitchell, Urological and Sexual Health Nurse Practitioner, Men’s Health Melbourne, VIC; Nadia Reddish, Consumer; Dr Stephen Rowles, Sexual Health Physician and General Practitioner, The Centre Clinic and Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, VIC; Teresa Simpson, Senior Clinician, Psycho-Oncology Social Work Service, Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool Hospital, NSW; Mel Tume, Consumer; Prof Jane Ussher, Professor of Women’s Health Psychology and Chief Investigator, Out with Cancer Study, Western Sydney University, NSW; Syr Lumi Vor, Community Member; John Wenborn, Shine a Light (LGBTQIA+ Cancer Support Group). We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who worked on the first the edition of this title. We particularly acknowledge ACON and Intersex Human Rights Australia for their extensive input on the first edition. Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag designed by Valentino Vecchietti (2021).
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
