Building a Cancer Care Clinic for Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals

Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2024 Aug 22;8(5):443-450. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2024.07.007. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Abstract

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people experience disparities in cancer care, including more late-stage diagnoses, worse cancer-related outcomes, and an increased number of unaddressed and more severe symptoms related to cancer and cancer-directed therapy. This article outlines plans to address the unique needs of TGD people through a TGD-focused oncology clinic. Such a clinic could be structured by upholding the following tenets: (1) champion a supportive, gender-affirming environment that seeks to continuously improve, (2) include a transdisciplinary team of specialists who are dedicated to TGD cancer care, and (3) initiate and embrace TGD-patient-centric research on health outcomes and health care delivery.