More than Cancer
WHAT IS ‘HEAR ME OUT’?
Our ‘Hear me out’ campaign aims to break down the barriers that some members of the LGBTIQ+ community may have experienced in the cancer care environment. It urges healthcare professionals to look beyond the diagnosis and see the whole person – including their sexual and romantic orientation, sexual activity and gender identity.
The ‘Hear me out’ campaign has been initiated and funded through a Collaborative Working Project between Pfizer UK and OUTpatients.
IF YOU’RE A PERSON WITH CANCER
Being LGBTIQ+ shouldn’t affect your cancer treatment journey in any way. But some people may have concerns about how their sexuality and/or gender identity might affect their experience.
If you’re worried in any way – please don’t be. We want to put your mind at rest that you’re not alone: many LGBTIQ+ people living with cancer will have had similar concerns. Everyone is different, but reading about others’ experiences and ideas may help put you at ease.
Your healthcare team should offer you care, support and information that meets your needs. They’re trained to look beyond your diagnosis and see you as a whole person – including your sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
You should feel welcome and supported in your cancer treatment journey, and you can help this by being out and open about who you are with your health team if you feel able to. As well as any medical advantages, this will create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere where no assumptions are made about any aspect of your life.
IF YOU’RE A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL
We want to make everyone feel welcome and supported in their cancer treatment journey, as we encourage them to be out and open with their health team.
Some will be more confident than others in sharing personal information. Once they’re put at ease, opening up will create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere where no assumptions are made about any aspect of people’s lives.
Healthcare professionals should introduce themselves with their pronouns
or have them on a badge or lanyard. This will make patients more comfortable with discussing theirs.
Health professionals should find out if there’s anything the team can do
to make the patient feel more comfortable – and act on the response.
If a mistake is made when using a patient’s pronouns,
a simple apology will help you move on.
No assumptions should be made about anyone accompanying the patient.
Patients can introduce them if they wish. Talking about other aspects of life, e.g. hobbies, can help everyone relax.
Gendered language should be avoided
such as ‘young lady’. Instead, people’s names or simply ‘the patient’ are fine.
A patient’s support system, e.g. partners and family, is important information.
It’s ok for health professionals to ask but they shouldn’t make assumptions about romantic partners, and should let patients explain in their own words.
Conversation with patients should be confident and clear.
Awkwardness or hesitation may be interpreted as discomfort or judgement.
Hear from our champions
MEET OUR ‘HEAR ME OUT’ CHAMPIONS
Our campaign champions shared their experiences to help give advice to other people with cancer and healthcare professionals.
Loz
Loz has never forgotten the member of their health team who made a world of difference with one simple question. It transformed their entire care journey:
“The most positive experience, the moment that stuck out for me, was I had a student nurse and he said ‘OK, I’m going to ask you what your pronouns are for a start’ – and I was amazed. It was a horrible time but that moment, between me and that healthcare professional, meant that I could feel that someone had acknowledged that maybe I don’t want to be addressed in ways that people are assuming. I felt like I was being cared for and listened to.”
Loz (they/them)
Louise
Louise knows that not all people are comfortable about talking about themselves, their sexuality and their identity. She gave us some tips on sharing information:
“If you’re hesitant you can do it in confidence – you can speak up in appointments without other people around. Make sure that you’re very clear and you know what you need to say to someone.”
Louise (she/her)
Leeanne
Leeanne found that she could talk openly about her preferences and how she wanted things to be done:
“Don’t be scared to say what you need and how you need it to be done. It can be scary to do that but, looking at the people who are looking after you, they have your best interests at heart and will make it easier.”
Leeanne (she/her)
DOWNLOAD OUR HEAR ME OUT CAMPAIGN RESOURCES E.G. POSTER, DIGITAL SCREENS
We're Here for you
OUTpatients provides a safe space for anyone who identifies as part of the queer spectrum and has had an experience with any kind of cancer – at any stage.