A new breast screening video from a cancer charity attempts to make healthcare accessible for the trans community with a step-by-step guide to breast screenings.
Pride month welcomes a new initiative by Macmillan Cancer’s Research which attempts to highlight breast cancer awareness in a new, inclusive video for transgender people.
The Rainbow Project Cancer Champions is one of Macmillan’s project supporting those experiencing cancer. Their newest launch aims to support transgender and non-binary people in accessing breast and and encourage them to use chest screening services – specifically made by and for the community.
Working with the Breast Imaging Unit at Antrim Area Hospital, the video is the first of an inclusive series on cancer care that is accessible to LGBTQIA+ people.
Jane, a participant who acted in the video, said she took part “to help bring awareness of breast screening to trans and non-binary people,” and shared that after meeting the friendly team, she “wouldn’t be nervous at all about going for a breast screening appointment. I felt very at ease with everyone,” added Jane.
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By “demystifying the process,” the video can help build confidence for anyone anxious or unsure about what to expect particularly those often left out of traditional health messaging,” claimed the Rainbow Project team.
Cancer Champion’s project manager, Joe Henson, detailed the barriers trans and non-binary people face when accessing screenings. “From GP records excluding us from automated recall systems, to dysphoria, healthcare anxiety, and a lack of gender-affirming environments. This video is just the start of changing that,” Joe said. “Our project aims to remove those barriers for the whole LGBTQIA+ community.”
Macmillan’s chief medical officer, Richard Simcock, added: “We know that Trans and Non-Binary people’s access to Breast Screening is affected by a range of complex issues and barriers. From screening and diagnosis, through to treatment and support, it is essential that Trans and Non-Binary people get the care they need and are entitled to. Everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, deserves to access the best care possible”.
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The Rainbow Project CEO, Scott Cuthbertson, described the video as showing “what healthcare can look like when it is co-designed with the people it serves”. He also shared that it was by working with trans people the pride he felt in being able to give “an often-marginalised community a sense of ownership over their care and help them feel more able to access the support that they need.”
Their hope is to “increasing uptake of testing and early detection.”
A spokesperson for The Rainbow project shared: “Asymptomatic screenings are available for trans & non-binary people through all HSC Trusts. For more information you can review the Public Health Agencies website for screening information for transgender, non-binary and gender-fluid service users. Symptomatic screening is available for anyone who finds a symptom by contacting their GP”.
You can contact the Rainbow Project Cancer Champions team by email: info@rainbow-project.org; or call: 028 9031 9030 (Belfast), 028 7128 3030 (Foyle).
