By Cathy Markes
Nearly everyone of us has had our lives touched by cancer. With every diagnosis, each patient deals with the emotional and physical rigors of treatment in their own particular way. Overall, the support groups most promoted by physicians and the public have been breast cancer and women.
Liz Margolies recognized a gap between all cancers and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and chose to act to benefit everyone.
The organization that was originally referred to as The LGBT Cancer Project of New York Community Center, is now responding to national needs by expanding their reach west and recently re-named their group The National LGBT Cancer Network. Founder and Executive Director Liz Margolies heads this growing effort.
Only now, through Margolies' insight and determination, an organization exists that is dedicated to the unique needs of the LGBT community and cancer survivors in the United States.
"It is remarkable to me that there are so many more people confronted with cancer today and no national registry collecting data on the LGBT segment of that population."
When Liz Margolies was first approached by the New York City LGBT Community Center to lead a group for lesbian cancer survivors, she was happy to become involved and was aiming to have a positive affect on that growing population. As a professional psychoanalyst she had seen many clients fighting their way back to a "whole self". But after a few meetings, with only ten women attending the group, Liz knew that she wasn't quite reaching the intended audience.
Her research and analysis has determined that there are nearly one million LGBT cancer survivors in this country. Remarkably, there is very little hard, detailed data collected on the demographics of LGBT cancer patients by any institution.
There are two overwhelming reasons, according to Margolies, that deter LGBT people from regular check-ups that might evaluate cancer early. First, the cost of insurance can be out of reach for many. Recently partner benefits have been cancelled, refused or brought into question legally with state constitutional amendments or prohibitions. Many citizens claim that purchasing individual or small group health plans can be costly beyond any budget.
Second, Margolies explains that "a bad experience" is often enough to turn someone away from the doctor's office altogether.
"The intake form alone can be troubling. Are you single, married, widowed or divorced?How do I answer that?"
Margolies explains that there are many simple ways that a health care provider can welcome LGBT clients into their offices.
"Being aware is key. What happens from the minute we walk into that office tells us whether we are welcome or not. What kind of art is on the walls and what sort of magazines are stocked in the waiting room? Most offices wouldn't think twice about subscribing to OPRAH magazine, so having The Advocate or the local LGBT newspaper shouldn't be out of the question if it's truly a welcoming office."
"You know, it doesn't have to be that hard – put a 49-cent rainbow sticker on the front door or post a photocopy of the non-discrimination policy."
As executive director of The National LGBT Cancer Network, she admits that she is now getting many more requests for presentations and materials than she can offer. Acknowledging that travel and presentation are key to successfully educating a nation, her non-profit budget does not allow for every opportunity.
"As a network, we are now working with individual health care professionals and institutions across the country with outreach and training. "
Cancer has not slowed its impact on the LGBT population, but Margolies is a self proclaimed cock-eyed optimist.
"My goal is to educate the medical community so that any LGBT person living in the middle of BFE, can feel that they have support from any physician they choose to visit. And, I'm working so that our Web site is a valuable source of information and comfort."
Visit this website – http://www.cancer-network.org
