May 2007: Ann Fonfa, founder of the Annie Appleseed Project writes: I have just been appointed to the new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) National Advisory Council of Komen for the Cure which addresses the breast health needs and issues among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. (See announcement below) I am extremely honored by this and intend to represent our community to the best of my abilities. I welcome your input and ideas. I like to think I can make a difference. Cars 4 Causes ® Car Donation Some years ago, Suzanne Haynes,a researcher at NCI (National Cancer Institute) speculated and created a computer model as to risk factors for lesbians. This was probably the first time something like this was done. The New York Times printed this information. It stated all the suggestions as fact. This was the bulk of what was said: Lesbians are at higher risk due to smoking, drinking, being overweight and not having children. While it may be true, especially in the past, that lesbians were more likely to smoke or drink than other women, this is NOT a scientific study in any way. Many lesbians have children and many Americans are overweight. (NOTE:when cancer strikes in Africa or Asia, the women are thin, malnourished, bear five children on average and breastfeed them all. This confounds our notions of risk factors anyway). 6/01 I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Suzanne Haynes who is now with the Office of Womens Health, HHS. She is really dedicated to finding information for lesbian health issues. She spoke at the first National Lesbian Health Conference held in San Francisco this month. NCI has issued a call for research in lesbian health. Grant money is now available. The issues for lesbians, as I see it, are primarily about access to health care and the difficulties after diagnosis. Access to health care issues are the same in cancer as all other health care. Dealing with the uninformed or homophobic is always difficult. Many lesbians walk away or do not start health care due to fears and barriers encountered at the doctor's office or clinic. There are lesbian-run health clinics in some cities which simplifies things. Problems after diagnosis are much more complex. Doctors may not allow non-family members to 1)be in the room at critical times 2)make decisions (even with health proxies, this can be difficult) 3)or be regarded as the partner. Sometimes family is the problem. Other family members may resent the partner, may be angry at the woman who is ill, etc. Grieving is also a difficulty. It is often misunderstood or under-recognized. A grieving widow from a lesbian relationship MUST get to a sympathetic group or counselor to express her feelings. And this may be a difficulty in some locations. There are other issues. Many LGBTI health links The Mautner Project Adephi Lesbian Breast Cancer Support Group June 20, 2007 Services for lesbians w/cancer and their partners/caregivers Fear of homophobia complicates a decision Quality of Life study to begin Psychosocial Intervention with Primary Bca Pts Lesbians/Heterosexuals with Breast Ca:Experiences Singer Melissa Etheridge Says Med MJ Helped Chemo 11/99 news article Improving Cancer Screening Among Lesbians Over 50 Patterns of Breast Ca Screening Among Lesbians At Risk Unmarried Women Feel Misunderstood:Straight or Gay! Screening and information for lesbian, bisexual and transgendered April 2001, American J of Public Health Teenage Lesbians Worst Rates of Smoking Philadelphia-based Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation breastcancer.org/Mautner Project Chicago Free Press, 11/00 Press Release, 11/00 4/03 The Genontologist Euro Soc of Human Repro & Embryology, 6/03 National Latina Health Organization Winter, 1995 Health Behaviors, Status & Access:Lesbians/Bi-sexual/Hetero June 29, 2004 Author Michele Forsten March 17, 2005 http://www.baywindows.com/news/896461.html and other obits Laurel Hester, NJ Police Lieutenant Won Domestic Partnerships Elizabeth Maguire, 47, Editor, Ovarian Cancer Barbara Gittings, 74, Prominent Gay Rights Activist Since ’50s, Dies Eve Kosofsky, Queer Studies, Writer, Age 58 Press Release, March 15, 2005 AMA President Addresses GLMA Conference, 2005 Associate Press article, 5/06 Lesbian and Transgender ACS Project Obit: Sylvia Rivera Gender Variant Activist Ask your practitioner to take these steps CA Supreme Court Rules on Religiously Biased Healthcare LINK to Philadelphia, PA Mission: "enhance the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender individuals & communities". Michele Forsten, February 2008 The Advocate and PlanetOut Inc Annals of Epidemiology March 2008, By Kathleen DeBold, March/April 2007 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.