Trans Aware Cancer Care

Wessex Cancer Support is a partner in a National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded project which seeks better access to cancer care for the trans+ community. The project aims to transform systems, culture and services to remove healthcare barriers for trans+ people.

The project has highlighted the complex challenge trans+ individuals face in accessing all healthcare, including cancer services. It has fostered relationships between trans+ community researchers, the wider trans+ community and healthcare providers, and has established a trusted partnership with Beyond Reflections to support trans+ adults.

A celebration event co-hosted by Help & Care, a community organisation that supports people living with long-term health conditions, carers and those isolated or housebound, took place on 25th September to reflect on the first phase of the project. People from across the trans+ community, NHS, third sector organisations, academic establishments and others came together at MAST studios in Southampton to reflect on the findings of the project and the unique research methods used.

Over the past year, four trans+ community researchers have been supported to engage with the trans+ community, using art-based methods to capture healthcare experiences and reflections. The team has attended a huge calendar of Pride events, as well as creating an online chat and scheduling workshops to reach the community.

At the event, the team shared a large flag built of squares created by those attending the engagement activity. The squares tell personal stories, experiences and reflections of healthcare from trans+ individuals, which will help to inform trans aware cancer care. People in the room were invited to add their own reflections, as well as their pledges and commitments for service transformation and improvement.

Zak, Community Researcher, said:

“Given that the trans+ community is often excluded from decisions about us, it’s good to see research that involves us from the ground up.”

Trans Aware Cancer Care is a partnership of Help & Care Involving People, local trans+ charity Beyond Reflections, Bournemouth University, Wessex Cancer Alliance, Wessex Cancer Support, Macmillan Cancer Support, and University Hospital Southampton. Each partner brings its own expertise to the project and a shared vision of equal access to cancer care for all.

Throughout the first phase of the project, a strong focus has been on building partnerships, coproduction and making a transformative journey together. Workshops have been held with NHS professionals, and the event signified healthcare professionals and the trans+ community coming together in a show of commitment for long term change.

Early findings from the project highlight both positive and negative experiences within the community. Whilst it’s clear that long term transformation is needed, the project has highlighted some steps that can be taken today to make the cancer care pathway more accessible for trans+ people.

Sue Newell, Wessex Cancer Alliance Involvement & Inclusion Lead, said:

“Today’s event has been amazing, a pause to reflect on the incredible artwork together with powerful stories of the trans+ community’s experiences of health and cancer care. We are looking forward to building on all the relationships made.”

Alison and Kishor from Action Hampshire, said:

“Today has been a great celebratory event. We’ll be aiming to incorporate the lived experiences we heard from the community researchers in things like the Communities against Cancer workshops we provide.”

The event closed with the desired continuation of this vital, collaborative project.