Revolutionizing LGBTQ+ Cancer Care
April 8th on Zoom, 7pm EST
Join us for an inspiring webinar that shines a spotlight on the urgent need for inclusive cancer care for LGBTQ+ individuals. Studies show that LGBTQ+ individuals face higher cancer risks and worse outcomes. The American Cancer Society estimates 160,000 new cancer cases and nearly 49,000 cancer deaths among LGBTQ+ individuals in 2024. This session will explore the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ patients as they navigate cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. It will highlight disparities in healthcare access, discuss the importance of creating affirming spaces, and introduce the pioneering work of the Rainbows Cancer Clinic at Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Jennifer A. Vencill will lead a thought-provoking discussion on the lack of research into cancer care for LGBTQ+ populations and why this must change. She will review current studies that highlight barriers to care, including healthcare provider knowledge gaps, stigma, and discrimination, which contribute to medical mistrust and worse outcomes for LGBTQ+ patients. Dr. Vencill will emphasize the importance of cultural humility among providers and explore actionable strategies to improve awareness and competence in addressing the physical, sexual, and psychosocial needs of LGBTQ+ cancer patients.
Dr. Elizabeth Cathcart-Rake will share her expertise on addressing disparities in cancer care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals, including innovative approaches to screening, endocrine therapies, and managing the side effects of treatment. She will also introduce the mission of the Rainbows Cancer Clinic—a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to reshaping cancer care for LGBTQ+ populations by providing safe, inclusive spaces that foster trust and better health outcomes.
This webinar will inspire healthcare providers, advocates, and community members to take action in creating a more equitable healthcare landscape for LGBTQ+ individuals facing cancer. With an estimated 1 million LGBTQ+ cancer survivors in the U.S., this conversation is crucial for advancing equitable and compassionate care.
About Our Speakers:
Dr. Elizabeth Cathcart-Rake is an assistant professor of oncology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, specializing in the treatment of breast cancer. Dr. Cathcart-Rake’s research and clinical work focus on improving the disparities faced by LGBTQIA+ patients with or at risk for cancer, with a particular aim to improve care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals with breast cancer. In addition, she studies ways to prevent and treat the acute and long-term effects of cancer treatments in order to support the quality of life of cancer survivors. Her areas of expertise include cancer screening among transgender and gender-diverse individuals at risk for breast cancer, clinical care interventions for LGBTQIA+ patients, endocrine therapies for transgender and gender-diverse breast cancer patients, and the prevention and treatment of side effects from cancer therapies.
Dr. Jennifer A. Vencill is an assistant professor, board-certified clinical health psychologist, and AASECT-certified sex therapist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She is dually appointed in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology as well as the Division of General Internal Medicine, where she spends most of her time providing integrated sexual health care and educating fellows, residents, and medical students about the importance of sexual and gender health. Dr. Vencill’s research focuses on sexual health and health disparities in marginalized sexual and gender communities. She also publishes in the area of sexual health and cancer survivorship and is the co-author of the new popular press book, Desire: An Inclusive Guide to Navigating Libido Differences in Relationships.