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A new task force formed to promote lesbian health
has a lot of fresh ideas and wants more—from you
V
by Inga Sorensen
Lewis attributes the apparent lack of educa
ou’ve probably heard the dire predic
tion among lesbians to denial, as well as the fact
tions by now: one in eight women
that many health programs simply don’t specifi
may experience breast cancer in her
lifetime, and lesbians may be at in cally target the lesbian population.
And many of the “experts” remain woefully
creased risk for getting the disease;
risk for breast cancer is increased by not insensitive
having or uninformed about lesbian health
concerns.
children; lesbians of color may be at higher risk at
“When I went to get a second opinion, I was
an earlier age; risk for breast cancer is increased
told to go to this doctor at [Oregon Health Sci
by smoking; women’s risk for breast or cervical
ences University]. He was considered among the
cancer increases with age.
best,” Lewis recounts, adding that the physician
Unsettling realities indeed. But did you also
presented the standard biased questions about
know that when breast and cervical cancer is
birth control.
found at the earliest stages, the cure rate ap
“When I told him I didn’t use it and I was a
proaches 100 percent? Or that there are free health
lesbian, that’s all he wanted to talk about— me
screenings available to many women? Or that
being a lesbian, that is,” she says. “I said, ‘Listen,
there is a way for lesbians interested in taking an
I’m not here because I’m a lesbian, I’m here
active role in their personal—and community ’ s—
health to do just that?
because I have breast cancer.”
“Many times lesbians are uncomfortable, and
“It ’ s all true,” says Carolyn Johnston, coordina
rightly so, about receiving heath care because of
tor of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Partnership,
the way they are treated,” says Johnston. “There
a program administered by the Multnomah County
is a lot of provider education that has to occur.”
Health Department in partnership with the Oregon
Iff;.
Johnston says her program
Breast and Cervical Cancer Coa
is currently surveying several
lition, Susan G. Konten Founda
•: providers regarding issues of
tion, American Cancer Society,
diversity, and hopes to develop
Oregon Health Division, National
a list of lesbian-friendly clinics
Black Leadership Initiative on
j and providers.
Cancer, and numerous commu
“One of the first things we
nity health care agencies.
: need to do is develop criteria of
Funding for the program is
; what makes for a ‘lesbian-
provided by the federal Centers
friendly’ provider, because it
for Disease Control and the Su
may mean different things to
san G. Komen Foundation.
different people,” she says.
According to Johnston, an ef
Johnston also says she’d like
fort is underway to establish an
yg to see the task force develop and
ongoing lesbian health task force,
now informally known as Lesbian Health Mat distribute relevant materials, as well as sponsor a
mammography van at lesbian events, and launch
ters, whose intent is to promote lesbian health and
a telephone hot line, perhaps via the Lesbian
make the health care establishment more acces
Community Project, which provides lesbian health
sible to lesbians.
information and referrals.
"I don’t think lesbian health issues have been
(According to Johnston, the Breast and Cervi
addressed much here. That’s why I think it’s
important this is being done,” says Johnston.
cal Cancer Partnership program is helping LCP
“Someone said to me, ‘We don’t have an [Oregon
apply for a grant which, if obtained, will help pay
for lesbian outreach and breast cancer education
Citizens Alliance] initiative this year. Maybe we
can now do something positive and proactive like
materials.)
She also wants to make women aware that
focus on lesbian health.’ That sounded right on
they may be eligible for a free health check exam
target to me.”
if they are over 40, low income, or have limited or
According to the National Gay and Lesbian
no insurance. The exam includes a Pap test and
Task Force Policy Institute, there is epidemio
pelvic exam, clinical breast exam, mammogram,
logical evidence which suggests that lesbians
and height, weight and blood pressure check.
may have a higher incidence of breast cancer than
The department says the checks are vital be
heterosexual women. This is based, says the insti
cause as a woman gets older, her risk for breast
tute, on a confluence of risk factors that appear in
and cervical cancer increases. Seventy-five per
the limited research available to be more common
cent
of all breast cancers occur in women older
among lesbians— including a higher incidence of
than 50. The majority of breast cancers occur in
nulliparity (not having borne children), bearing a
women without any family history of the disease.
first child after the age of 30, and increased
alcohol consumption.
In the meantime, both Johnston and Lewis en
courage lesbians to become involved in setting the
Research further suggests that lesbians may
goals and direction of the lesbian health task force.
be at risk for delayed diagnosis and treatment for
"This effort can be whatever women want it to
any number of reasons, including a decreased
be,” says Johnston. “This is for them.”
likelihood of receiving routine cancer screenings
Lewis adds, “Lesbians have proven that they
and checkups caused by a lack of health insurance
coverage or prior negative experiences with doc can take care of others. It’s time for us to do the
tors and other providers.
same for ourselves and each other.”
Or it may come down to the fact that many
lesbians don’t realize they are at risk.
The Lesbian Health Matters task force will
meet Jan. 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the
“I think many women in the lesbian community
are undereducated about health issues,” says April
Morrison Building, 2115 SE Morrison St., in
Lewis, 44, an out lesbian who also works with the
Portland. For more information about the
Multnomah County Health Department.
meeting or free health checks, call Betty
In September 1995, Lewis was diagnosed
Graham at 248-3674, ext. 28266. Also, the
with breast cancer.
Lesbian Community Project sponsors a
“I was shocked. It came out of the blue,” says
women’s cancer-survivor support group. For
Lewis. “I had totally been in the dark about the risks.”
more information, call 223-0071.
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