Aim: A systematic scoping review was conducted to understand the current state of cancer care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual and other sexual and gender minority communities (LGBTIQA+) in Victoria.
Methods: The scoping review was conducted in three parts across 2022 and 2023. A rapid systematic review examined published systematic reviews, meta-analyses, qualitative meta-syntheses, and integrated reviews specific to cancer care for LGBTIQA+ people with cancer. An environmental scan examined publicly available Australian cancer care policy resources relating to LGBTIQA+ cancer care for their level of recognition and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ specific cancer care. A dataset evaluation examined the presence of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data items within Victorian cancer related datasets and their data dictionaries.
Results: Most cancer care research does not include sub-group analyses examining the LGBTIQA+ population and experience. Where LGBTIQA+ focused cancer research exists, studies often exclusively focus on cancers related to sex organs, or cancers known to be hormone dependent. Few Australian cancer care policy resources include LGBTIQA+ acknowledgement, inclusion, or targeted actions. Most policy resources referred to the LGBTIQA+ community collectively, rather than as a collection of unique subgroups with diverse needs. Where differences in cancer care and/or service needs within the LGBTIQA+ community were acknowledged, documents frequently focused on trans and gender-diverse people with cancer. In Victorian cancer datasets, only the National Cervical Screening Program dataset includes information about gender identity, and no datasets record information about a person’s sexual orientation or preferred pronouns.
Conclusions: While cancer policies in Victoria may acknowledge the importance of recognising the unique needs of LGBTIQA+ people with cancer, dataset revision and the collection of SOGI data items is required to identify and understand this population. Victorian LGBTIQA+ specific cancer care and experience research is required.