OncologyNursingNews.com – Coriene E. Hannapel
San Antonio – Although sexual-minority cancer patients who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) face many of the same challenges faced by their heterosexual counterparts, many other obstacles are specific to their sexual-minority status.
“LGBT patients and their providers face unique challenges,” stated Jay Swanson, RN, BS, BSN, OCN, and cancer nurse navigator at Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, Neb, in a session titled, “Beyond the Closet: Sexual Minority Patients, Their Families, and Nurses.” Speaking at the 34th Annual Oncology Nursing Society Congress, Mr Swanson and 2 other speakers presented information and strategies to help healthcare providers deal with some of the problems common to the sexual-minority population.