Intimacy and relationship advice
Talk with your partner or chosen family early and often about changes in your body and how intimacy might shift.
Consider seeing a sex therapist or counselor who is LGBTQ-affirming.
Explore new expressions of intimacy if previous sexual roles/functions change.
If you are non-binary or trans and have had body-affirming surgery, talk about how treated organs affect your sexual function and comfort—your team should have that awareness.
Your action plan
Save your treatment summary and keep it updated.
Every 6-12 months, review with your provider: Are you up-to-date with screenings, are there new risks, how is your body doing?
If you notice new symptoms or body memories (pain, swelling, emotional changes), raise them early.
Advocate for your gender/sexual identity when engaging with healthcare teams: say “I’m trans/non-binary/gay/bisexual and this matters in my survivorship plan.”
Happiness, Mental Health & Wellness (stress, trauma, minority stress, isolation)
Your mind and your identity matter in cancer and beyond
Common issues you may face
Anxiety about cancer recurrence, body changes, sexual function.
Depression or grief for loss of body parts, fertility, roles.
Identity stress: “Do I still feel like myself?” “How does being queer/trans change now that I had cancer?”
Isolation: You may not see peers like you in cancer support spaces. You may feel cut off from LGBTQ social spaces.
Trauma or past discrimination: Previous negative medical encounters can lead to fear of providers.
Relationship and intimacy stress: shifts in relationship roles, sexual identity, partner dynamics.
Financial or job stress adding to emotional toll.
Strategies to support your mental wellness
Seek an LGBTQ-affirming mental health provider. When you call ask: “Do you have experience with cancer survivors who identify as LGBTQ?”
Join a peer support group with others who share your identity. You don’t have to go it alone.
Practice grounding and mindfulness: simple breathing, short daily routines to help you feel anchored.
Reconnect to your identity beyond cancer: your sexuality, gender, community, gifts. Cancer did not erase your queer self.
Track your mood and emotional shifts. Early intervention helps.
Build resiliency: record one small win each day, or three things you feel proud of about.
Include your partner or chosen family in support if useful. Their understanding helps.
Address fertility or sexual changes early; these often trigger emotional distress.
Action plan for you
Schedule a mental-health check-in every 3-6 months.
Join one online peer support forum or message board for LGBTQ cancer survivors.
Ask your medical team: Are you including mental health in your survivorship care plan?
If you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm, please reach out for emergency help immediately. You deserve care and support.