Cancer in Our Lives: Raising Awareness in the LGBTQI Community
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Community Focus on Cancer
San Francisco LGBT Community Center
9:00 – 9:30
Registration / Continental breakfast
9:30 – 9:40
Blessing
Native American representatives
9:40 – 10:00
Welcome Remarks, Appreciations and Overview
Speaker: Jim Shattuck, M.A.
10:00 – 11:00
Plenary panel:
Why Should We Care? Making Cancer an LGBTQI Issue
Description: We are a community at risk. Having LGBTQI status in this society puts us at enhanced risk for cancer. The health care system often overlooks our unique needs or presents a hostile environment to be avoided. The alcohol and tobacco industries target our communities with their products that can cause us harm. As a result of all this, morbidity and mortality rates for some cancers are disproportionate in our community. We’ll take an in-depth look at the social and behavioral risk factors that make cancer an issue we need to address in our community.
Moderator: Jim Shattuck, M.A.
Presenters: Shane Snowdon & Sara Orozco, Ph.D.
11:00 – 11:15
Break
11:15 – 12:30
Plenary panel:
What We Know: Cancer Research, Screening & Risk Reduction
Description: Relatively little cancer research has been done specifically including/addressing LGBTQI people. But there have been some studies and the number of researchers working in this area is expanding. This presentation will summarize what we know from the research that has been done. We will hear about the material presented one day earlier at the Medical Professionals gathering. And we will explore what you need to know about early detection and risk reduction behaviors suited to our communities/bodies/lives.
Moderator: David Latini, Ph.D.
Presenters:
Jack Burkhalter, Ph.D.: Summary of LGBT Cancer Research Studies
Michael Berry, M.D.: Summary of Presentations from Friday:
Amy Andre, M.A.: LGBTQI Risk Reduction and Screening Guidelines
12:30 – 1:30
Buffet Lunch
1:30 – 3:00
Plenary Panel:
The Give and Take of Caring: The ABCs of Taking Care of Business
Description:
So someone you love has cancer...or you yourself have been diagnosed with cancer. As life-changing as that news may be, it's even more so if you must re-create your support system. This workshop highlights many ways to take care of yourself and your loved ones: emotionally, logistically, legally and financially. You will hear from the Lovetroopers, a support system created by Heather Macallister "to share love and spread it around!" The Lovetroopers have become the model for "do-it-yourself" care, when traditional systems of care are not available.
Just as the person diagnosed with cancer needs attention and creative support, so too do the caregivers. We will talk about the needs and issues for loved ones and the kinds of resources available to help.
All important legal and financial concerns for the queer person with cancer and their caregivers and chosen families will be addressed.
Please join us for lively interactive discussion about cancer, about caretaking and caregiving. Bring your stories, bring your questions, bring your passion!
The Love Troopers
Organizer: Yoseñio Lewis
Caring for Caregivers
Organizer: Barbara Buckley, LCSW with LGBTQI cancer caregiver representatives
Cancer: Our Legal and Financial Realities
Presenter: Joyce Pierson, Eswq.
3:00 - 3:15
Break
3:15 - 4:15
Breakout Sessions
How does the threat of cancer affect those with intersex variations (non-standard male or female sex anatomies)?
Description:
We'll show the 13-minute film "XXXY" about Kristi and Howard's personal journey of living with intersex anatomies and the decisions that were made for them as children. We'll have a discussion of the possible affects of these decisions, whether appropriate or not, and discuss potential cancer and HRT risks.
Presenters: David Cameron, Milton Diamond, Ph.D., & Mani Bruce Mitchell
Young People and Cancer
Presenter: Angela L. Padilla, Esq.
Spoken Word Performances
Organizer: Margo Rivera-Weiss
Description:
Join three queer cancer survivors for a lively hour of words about cancer. First diagnosed with cancer at 21, Tania Katan is an award-winning author, playwright, and performer. Katan will read from her unforgettable memoir, My One-night Stand With Cancer. She writes about her cancer experience, neurotic family, and egomaniacal girlfriends with humor and candor. Transgender activist, Yoseñio V. Lewis , will share his experiences of living through the diagnosis and treatment of breast and uterine cancers. Jesus Guillen , a San Francisco-based singer and composer, will treat us to a few songs about his experiences.
Organizer: Margo Rivera-Weiss
4:15 – 4:30
Break
4:30 – 5:00
Closing Summary & Next Steps:
Looking Good, Looking Forward
Description:
Ours is not the first gathering to address cancer in our community. This presentation will take a look at the significant steps forward made by others in the past and, given what we have experienced today, what each of us can do moving forward in the fight for quality, competent, relevant cancer care. Get ready to get started!
Presenter: Lori J. Fresina