LGBTQ+ people and cancer treatment

There may be times when members of your healthcare team ask you about:

• sexual and romantic orientation
• sexual activity
• gender identity.

Your team may ask because they want to give the right care and support to you and the people close to you. They may also ask to collect some of this information for equality monitoring. This means the information is used to ensure that NHS services are accessible for everyone.

If you are unsure why you are being asked these questions, you can ask:

• why they need the information
• why they think the information is relevant to your care.

You do not have to give your team this information. But it may be an important part of who you are. It might be helpful for your team to know. And you may find it makes things easier or less stressful for you. Tell your team if the questions they ask do not fit with who you are or how you identify.

If your healthcare team have not asked, it is still important that you feel able to come out to them, if you want to. You may choose to do this when you first meet someone from your team. Or you may decide to wait until you find someone you feel comfortable with.

If a healthcare professional is wearing an NHS Rainbow Badge, you could start by asking them about it. The badge means they should be open to talking about LGBTQ+ needs and able to offer support. Some healthcare professionals wear rainbow lanyards or other items because they are LGBTQ+ themselves. Others do so to show they support the LGBTQ+ community.

It may also help your healthcare team to know the following things:

• Whether you are out or not. Your team should treat all information about you confidentially. They may only share information with other healthcare professionals when it is needed for your care. If you are not out in all areas of your life, explain this to your team. They should not share your sexual orientation or trans status without your permission.
• Your name, title and pronouns. You can ask your team to make a note and use these even if they are different from those in your medical records.
• The people who are important to you. Your team needs to understand who supports you and your relationship to them. Tell your team who you give consent for them to talk to about your care.
• What is important to you. Tell your team if they are offering you the wrong information or support. For example, some cancer treatments can affect your ability to get or make someone pregnant (your fertility). If you want information about this but have not been offered it, ask your team. If they talk to you about it but you do not want or need this information, tell them.
• What you are worried about. You may be worrying about things your team are not aware of. Tell them if something is making you anxious so they can help.

Cancer and some cancer treatments can affect many areas of sexual well-being. Sometimes, they can also affect your ability to get pregnant or make someone pregnant (fertility). Your cancer doctor or specialist nurse can explain before you start a cancer treatment if it is likely to cause sexual side effects or fertility problems. They can also give advice and information about this during or after treatment.

The side effects of cancer treatments are often the same whatever your sexual orientation or gender identity. But as an LGBTQ+ person, you may have some specific questions about how these will affect your sex life or your fertility options. And some side effects may be more of a problem depending on the type of sex you have.

Some people have already made decisions about fertility before being diagnosed with cancer. You may have decided you do not want to have children. Or you may have planned it for the future. Some people may have stored sperm, eggs, embryos or ovarian tissue. If you have questions about fertility before or after cancer treatment, talk to your cancer team. It might be helpful to write down your questions to take to appointments. Your team can give you information, or refer you to a fertility clinic for more support.

OUTpatients have information for LGBTQ+ people about sex with and beyond cancer. We also have information about cancer, sex and side effects for anyone before, during or after cancer treatment. This information is for you whether or not you are in a relationship or having sex, and whatever your sexual orientation or gender identity.

We also have more information about cancer and fertility.

If you have questions about your fertility and cannot find the information you need, call our cancer support specialists on 0808 808 00 00.

We are committed to making our website as accessible as possible, to make sure that everyone can use it.

We have information about cancer for LGBTQ+ people in over 16 languages. You can also listen to our audiobook LGBTQ+ people and cancer for free.

If we don't have what you are looking for, you can ask for information to be translated for free or provided in a format to suit you. Email us at cancerinformationteam@macmillan.org.uk or call us on 0808 808 00 00.