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OUR WHY
Laitalain Walker organized Disrupt Cancer Now as a result of her mom being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. The diagnosis was devastating to hear and even harder to accept. Along the journey, her mom was amazingly strong and determined to disrupt cancer every day during treatments.
Today, her mom is a year and three months in remission. While watching her mom endure cancer treatments and fight for her life she decided to stand up to cancer. In the same way cancer disrupted her mom’s life and others, she formed the organization named Disrupt Cancer Now.
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Laitalain then started to look at statistics for breast cancer which led to the question, what about my community? The LGBTQ+ community? What she found was overwhelmingly heartbreaking information about the disparities in the LBGTQ+ community when it comes to cancer.
ABOUT US
This lack of disclosure may stop an LGBTQ+ person from including their partner and/or family in their cancer care. Which can increase the potential for poor survivorship outcomes. Which shows that LGBTQ+ people with cancer have unique cancer care needs that remain unaddressed. LGBTQ+ communities are at risk for poor access to cancer prevention, screening, and quality cancer.
As a result, Disrupt Cancer Now was organized to educate and create programs in the LGBTQ+ community to addresses the disparities.
WHAT WE DO
Cancer Awareness: Educate LGBTQ+ communities about the cancers that most commonly effect the community.
Prevention Campaign: “My LGBTQ+ Life Matters” was created to increase cancer screenings among LGBTQ+ people. Street Team of volunteers attending LGBTQ+ gatherings, night clubs, and events to pass out material for cancer screenings. Aide in the facilitation of providing LGBTQ+ people with direct contact information to get screened if not insured.
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Lodging: Investing in a housing property to house cancer patients that come to North Texas for treatment at no cost. Taking the burden of expense off the patient so they can feel safe and focus on getting better.
After Care Treatment Survivorship (ACTS): Create wellness plans specific to cancer patients to help maintain a healthy lifestyle being cancer free.
LGBTQ+ & CANCER RISK
LGBTQ+ individuals face unique challenges and considerations related to cancer risk. While cancer itself does not discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity, there are factors that may impact cancer risk within the LGBTQ+ community:
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Delayed Screening
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Risk Factors
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HIV Infection
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HPV Infection
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Stress and Anxiety
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Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)