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Currently the support needs and experiences of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) persons affected by cancer are an emerging area of research and new understandings are being formed. This piece of participatory research was underpinned with person-centred philosophy and worked in partnership with members of the LGB community to establish the following: What mattered to them during their cancer journeys, their experiences of care, and a practitioner guide to inform on practice.

This research followed a participatory research design, based on Heron and Reasons Cooperative Inquiry (1997). The researcher worked in-depth with nine LGB participants and their key support persons to explore the impact of cancer treatment on their long-term wellbeing and identity. Participants were supported through using methods such as art, drawing, timelines, sculpture, photography, artefacts, and collage as a means of exploration. These were used to facilitate reflection to establish their thoughts, perceptions and insights into their past experiences of care. Drawing on the themes participants outlined ideas for best practice guidelines and shared these with key stakeholders for further feedback and final publication in the form of a practitioner guide.

Participants’ accounts revealed a broad range of issues that both corroborate and build on existing evidence. LGB persons in this research explored context specific disorienting dilemmas in their own care experience such as, focusing on coming to terms with their diagnosis, negative experiences of care, and coping with the effects of treatments. Participants reflected on the impact of their treatments which included negative attitudes towards being labelled, poor treatment by staff, reconciling relationships, and coming to terms with their sexual orientation and diagnosis. A practitioner guide aimed at supporting professionals to deliver inclusive care was devised as a means of addressing the issues that arose from the participant’s experiences of the oncology pathway.

LGB persons were found to have distinct care experiences and needs related to cancer across a variety of areas. The main findings of this research provide an evidence base for this assertion, and were used to develop a national practitioner guide with the participants and key stakeholders. The guide was aimed at raising awareness of the needs of LGB persons affected by cancer and improving the care experience.