With Breast Cancer Awareness Month in full swing, a new organisation, Inclusive Community for Breast Health (ICBH), today announces its formation and shares its goals to serveLGBTQ+ people with breast health concerns through direct service, research, and advocacy. ICBH will provide resources for LGBTQ+ individuals who are in treatment for, or seeking to prevent, breast cancer, and work to build cultural competence within the healthcare system through collaboration with academic and healthcare organisations.
«We are thrilled to take these initial steps in launching what we believe will be a vital source of support and information for LGBTQ+ individuals who are confronted with breast health issues», said ICBH Founder and Board President Dina Proto, Registered Nurse, Author, CEO, and owner of Dina Proto International. «We aim to create a safe space for those in our communities who are in the midst of breast cancer treatment or preventive treatment. We want to give them the freedom to be fully authentic as they seek guidance and community support».
ICBH also plans to formally partner with academic institutions, engaging with current medical students and future health care providers so they are culturally competent in providing breast-focused healthcare for LGBTQ+ people. Some of these collaborations have informally begun.
«These partnerships will lead to more comprehensive data so that we can better understand the breast health implications for LGBTQ+ people», Proto said. The organisation is currently circulating a short, non-research based survey focused on identifying LGBTQ+ community support needs in the area of breast/chest health. The survey is directed towards «previvors» (preventative stage), «survivors» (active stage), and «thrivers» (post-treatment stage) who are affected by breast health issues such as active cancer, BRCA+, family history, prophylactic monitoring, and treatments.
As the survey responses are reviewed and analysed, ICBH will be organising its first online educational panel that will include a variety of LGBTQ+ individuals with varying experiences and perspectives on breast health. That event is planned for November and ICBH will share specific details on its social media pages in the near future.
