Rainbows Cancer Clinic helps the LGBTQ+ community navigate breast cancer

By Deb Balzer

Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis involves many emotional and medical decisions. For members of the LGBTQ+ community, the experience may be further complicated by stigma and discrimination.

To address these barriers, Elizabeth Cathcart-Rake, M.D., an oncologist with the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, led the effort to launch the Rainbows Cancer Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. This clinic is designed to support LGBTQ+ people with breast cancer, providing clinical expertise and research to improve care and outcomes.

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Having an open, honest conversation with your healthcare team is important, but some LGBTQ+ people may feel unsafe – and that may lead to delays in seeking care.

"Our goal is to take folks through that initial diagnosis all the way through treatment, symptom control, end-of-life care, palliative care and/or survivorship," says Dr. Cathcart-Rake.

Rainbows Cancer Clinic goals

She says the Rainbows Cancer Clinic has three main goals: to offer a welcoming, affirming space; provide clinical expertise; and conduct research to improve care.

Improving care is critical because cancer outcomes are poorer in this community.

"I don't think we understand exactly why that's the case, and so being able to identify where the issues are and where we can act is super important," Dr. Cathcart-Rake says.

And she offers these words for patients.

"My goal of this clinic is to make sure that I'm advancing your cancer care with a lens toward supporting your identity and your goals."

Learn more

Learn more about specialized clinics for people in the LGBTQ+ community.

Join the LGBTQIA Health Support Group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic for patients and caregivers.

Also, read these articles:

• Mayo Clinic launches Rainbows, an LGBTQ-focused breast cancer clinic
• What people who identify as LGBTQ should know about cancer
• IBD Pride Clinic: Belonging while battling bowel disease
• Mayo Clinic Minute: The importance of cancer screenings for LGBTQ community

A version of this article was originally published on the Mayo Clinic News Network.