Therapeutic itinerary of lesbian women with Gynecological Cancer from a gender perspective

• Grant number: 20/09464-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2021
• End date: March 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Manoel Antônio dos Santos
• Grantee: Carolina de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/09356-4 - Cancer care in sexual minority women: Expanding research perspectives between England and Brazil about LGBT+ care in the context of serious illness, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Gynecological Cancers are Cervical and Breast Cancer, as well as Vulva, Vaginal, Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer, which have lower incidence. None of the research on these Cancers has especially addressed the issue of attention to non-heterosexual women. This omission is neither random nor a mere result of chance, but has its roots in the historical invisibilization that hovers over sexual minorities and the erasure of homosexual experience. In this direction, it becomes relevant to think about the specifics that accompany the health-disease process of homosexual women who have their lives intercepted by a potentially fatal illness, and how these possible differences in the way they experience the illness and treatment are reflected in their therapeutic itineraries. Considering these assumptions, this study aims to understand the experiences of lesbian women diagnosed with different types of female Cancers in their therapeutic itineraries of search for health services and in the course of treatment. It is a qualitative, interpretative, cross-sectional study that will have gender studies as its theoretical reference. Five women diagnosed with Gynecological Cancer will participate. For the construction of the corpus of analysis, interviews will be carried out, with questions that will seek to circumscribe the experiences of lesbian women with Cancer in their search for health services. The interviews will be conducted individually, in a face-to-face situation, lasting approximately 60 minutes, and will be audio-recorded with the authorization of the participants. After data collection, the audiographed content will be transcribed literally and in its entirety. Afterwards, the data will be analyzed and discussed based on the clinical-interpretative strategy. Through this procedure, aspects related to the health history, history of the diagnosis, perceptions about how they were received by the health services, perceptions about the training of the health team to deal with sexual diversity, perceived benefits and barriers related to the health services, as well as facilities and difficulties to follow the treatment, suggestions to improve the health service and future plans/perspectives will be investigated. It is hoped that the knowledge produced can contribute to the implementation of health promotion and prevention strategies in psychosocial rehabilitation services for women with Gynecological Cancer, enabling the development of social and public policies implemented by the State that are sensitive to sexual and gender diversity. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE SOUZA, CAROLINA; DOS SANTOS, MANOEL ANTONIO. Search for Healthcare and Breast/Gynecological Cancer Prevention Among Brazilian Lesbian Cisgender Women. CANCER INVESTIGATION, v. N/A, p. 12-pg., 2025-01-24. (20/09464-3)

CAROLINA DE SOUZA; MANOEL ANTÔNIO DOS SANTOS. Sutilezas do relacionamento afetivo-sexual entre mulheres em Retrato de uma Jovem em Chamas. Revista de Estudos Feministas, v. 31, n. 2, 2023-09-01. (20/09464-3)