Earlier this year, Victor Gîrbu, a cancer survivor from Moldova and patient advocate at Youth Cancer Europe (YCE), spoke at the Young Cancer Survivors Conference in Brussels about the inequalities faced by various groups of cancer survivors.

In his speech, Victor also referred to the queer community, and the editorial team of BangBang.md decided to ask Youth Cancer Europe, a network of youth cancer communities from across Europe, about the issues faced by LGBT+ cancer survivors.

BB: Starting from Victor’s speech this year at the EU Missions Cancer Conference, could you tell us about the general situation of cancer survivors in the LGBT+ community?

Katie Rizvi, Youth Cancer Europe (YCE) Founder: Thank you for mentioning this conference, and Youth Cancer Europe’s advocacy work on these topics. For those who don’t know us, it’s worth pointing out that YCE was invited to every single panel discussion at the EU Mission Cancer youth dialogue as our members are outspoken patient advocates and, informed by their very personal lived experience, passionate about the subjects the meeting addressed, such as mental health, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). 

Many young people who are facing cancer in the LGBTQI+ community, as well as those from minority communities differentiated by race, ethnicity, or for example, religion, may experience discrimination, exclusion, and unequal healthcare treatment. 

One of the biggest problems to start with is the need for more evidence, especially in Eastern Europe, as these statistics are not collected. As we don’t collect the right data, we don’t have enough hard evidence about the experiences of marginalized groups.

BB: In the speech mentioned earlier, it is noted that cancer survivors in the LGBT+ community face additional obstacles, including a lack of access to adoption rights. What consequences do these have for them?

Ana Amăriuței, patient advocate at Youth Cancer Europe and Sensory Neuroscience and Gene Therapy Ph.D. student at the University of Sheffield: According to a study conducted by YCE, certain European Union member countries do not allow cancer survivors from LGBTQI+ communities to access donations of eggs, sperm or embryos, and assisted fertilization services. This demonstrates that people from various minorities are denied the right to have or start a family after completing treatment. 

In addition, single individuals also have obstacles in accessing these services, pointing to an archaic and outdated concept of what is legally considered a “family unit” in Europe today. Moreover, cancer survivors face difficulties adopting a child. During the adoption process, prospective adoptive parents need to submit their medical history (including their previous diagnosis), and in countries where the “Right to be forgotten” is not implemented – or does not apply to adoption – they might be discriminated against, and their adoption request might be denied. This situation is even more complicated for same-sex couples, which are not legally recognized as a “family” in many European countries.

BB: Also, in the context of the conference, Victor refers to trans cancer survivors. What issues do they face?

Ana Amăriuței, patient advocate at Youth Cancer Europe and Sensory Neuroscience and Gene Therapy Ph.D. student at the University of Sheffield: It is essential here to refer to both survivors and cancer patients from the trans, inter and non-binary communities. They represent people from vulnerable groups for whom traditional practices may not meet their needs. What we know is that these patients face obstacles in accessing screening, prevention, and treatment procedures because they cannot tick one of the two boxes indicating whether they are ‘female’ or ‘male’. Because of this, these patients do not receive the medical care they need. 

This may lead to an increase in the number of patients within LGBTQI+ communities who end up being diagnosed late, in advanced stages of cancer (or, for example, no longer able to benefit from fertility preservation options). In addition, we cannot overlook the lack of education on this subject among medical professionals, especially those treating young people under gender-altering hormone therapy.

BB: Also, Victor, in your speech, you talked about the difficulties faced by other communities, such as the Roma and refugees. What should Moldova and Romania do to support people from these communities, including the queer community?

Victor Gîrbu, member of the WHO Youth Council and patient advocate at YCE: To support vulnerable communities, it is essential to normalize discussions about these topics and change the dialogue so that these conversations are no longer taboo. In addition, it is necessary to ensure equal and fair access to health services and to support education, anti-discrimination policies, and access to information. 

As for our work at Youth Cancer Europe, we provided support and operational assistance to cancer patients in Ukraine immediately after the war began. So far, YCE has provided support for around 320 cancer patients from Ukraine, helping them access specific treatments and therapies in hospitals in at least 18 countries in Europe and helping them access housing, food, and social and medical services. Coordinating our efforts and providing the necessary support for vulnerable individuals is essential.

*Note: In 2020, Victor Gîrbu delivered a speech at the European Commission discussing his experience battling cancer at a young age. His words made a strong impression on the audience. His courage to speak openly about the difficulties he went through was rewarded with a standing ovation.

BB: How do you try, at YCE, to combat the inequality faced by people from different communities?

Victor Gîrbu, Member of the WHO Youth Council, Patient Advocate at YCE: Within YCE, we focus on raising awareness of the specific needs of members from different communities through publications, high-level discussions, and advocating for updating documents, policies, and knowledge of medical staff and creating a hospital environment that can respond better and more fairly to the needs of patients from different minority groups. 

In conclusion, we fight for people of different ethnicities, refugees, and members of the LGBTQI+ community to receive the necessary care, free from hostility and discrimination, and to have their needs met so that they can have a better chance of survival and a better quality of life.

  • Versiunea în limba română a textului este diponibilă AICI

Author: Aliona Ciurcă