Strength in Community: Building Visibility in LGBTQ+ Cancer Care

After being diagnosed with aggressive triple-negative breast cancer on Valentine’s Day 2022, Alix Shulman quickly learned that conquering cancer involves much more than medical expertise—it requires community. Today, she is cancer-free and turning her experience into action as an American Cancer Society ambassador for Portraits of Hope. In this interview for Pride Month, she sits down with Oncology Data Advisor to share her passion for advocating for early detection and breast cancer awareness, with a focus on ensuring that LGBTQ+ patients feel seen and supported in clinical settings. 

The Diagnosis

Ms. Shulman’s cancer story began when she started noticing changes in her body and decided not to dismiss them. “I let my regular doctor know, and she scheduled the diagnostic mammogram and the ultrasound,” she said. “I don’t even remember when the radiologist came in after the tests. I just asked if I should be scared when she asked if I had any questions.” She was diagnosed with stage 3A triple-negative breast cancer on Valentine’s Day 2022.

The Treatment Journey 

Ms. Shulman recalled that her treatment journey required physical, emotional, and logistical endurance. “Luckily for me, the FDA had just approved pembrolizumab on February 2 of that same year,” she said. She opted for a bilateral mastectomy and then initiated treatment with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy.

Treatment, she emphasized, doesn’t happen in a vacuum. “Going through chemotherapy and immunotherapy is really hard,” she said. “On the patient, on your family, and it’s especially hard on the person who is your caretaker. I could not be more grateful for the friends I have who came to support me.” 

Care That Includes the Caregiver

Asked about the mental and emotional toll, especially for LGBTQ+ patients and their partners, Ms. Shulman said that simply acknowledging the caregiver is very impactful. “My doctor always asks how Lisa, my wife, is doing,” she said. She contrasted that with the hesitation that many LGBTQ+ people carry into clinics: “I think a lot of folks in the community are kind of nervous to say. They’re not sure how that will be taken. I’ve always thought, if they don’t accept me as a patient, then I’ll find somebody who does.”

Challenges After Treatment

Ms. Shulman also named something that patients often learn too late: finishing treatment can feel like losing the structure that kept you upright. “I went to appointments every Wednesday,” she said. “Once those Wednesdays end, it’s really hard to lose that schedule.” Many survivors face depression as they navigate life after active treatment.

She described how her queer community was a bridge through that emptiness, especially because many already know the terrain of anxiety and depression. For her, it mattered to say it out loud to friends that she felt lost or empty. “Being able to talk about it and being able to be teammates in it was really helpful,” she emphasized.

Advocacy and Early Detection

Ms. Shulman’s advocacy with the American Cancer Society grew from showing up and asking questions. After seeing someone wearing a Portraits of Hope sash at an awareness walk, she asked about it and then applied to the program herself. “I was really excited to get it, because not only am I a survivor, but I’m Latina and I’m part of the queer community,” she said. 

Since then, she’s done interviews, raised money, told her story in virtual meetings, and collaborated with other ambassadors. “Sharing your story and sharing the emotion behind it, that’s real,” she said. “It urges people to get mammograms and do self-exams. Advocacy is very important.”  

Her advocacy also shows up in ordinary places. She described spotting someone with “chemo hair” at the nail salon and choosing to connect. She shared resources from the American Cancer Society website and her phone number in case the person every wanted to talk. “It’s important to let people know, ‘Hey, I’ve got your back’,” she said. “It’s real life, letting someone know ‘I see you’.” 

Advice for Clinicians

For clinicians, she offered a simple framework: ask questions that will invite patients to be open with you. “It might be hard for someone in the queer community who is not very outgoing to ask about LGBTQ+ resources,” she said. “As clinicians, you can list support groups and ask if there are any the patient is interested in. This can include groups for LGBTQ+ individuals, for single women, for people who just moved to the city.”

She underscored that asking if they’ll be going by themselves or if they’ll be going with someone can also prompt patients to share more. “Just being kind and having an open heart is super important. And ask the questions.”  

Messages for Pride Month

“First of all, happy Pride,” Ms. Shulman concluded. She imparted the message to prioritize getting mammograms, getting ultrasounds, and doing self-exams every month. “And don’t forget that you’re not going to be missed in healthcare if you speak up.”

Key Takeaways

• LGBTQ+ cancer patients benefit from care environments that proactively signal safety, respect, and belonging, not just clinical competence.

• Caregiver wellbeing deserves explicit attention.

• Survivorship can bring a difficult transition when appointments end, and depression or anxiety may intensify without structured support.

• Accessible support options help reduce isolation and make it easier for patients to find community that fits.

• Early detection remains critical: regular screenings, self-exams, and awareness of changes can speed evaluation and treatment.

• Survivor-led advocacy and peer connection can reduce fear, increase follow-through on screening, and help others navigate resources.

• Equity in cancer care requires asking about identity, support systems, and practical barriers so services can be tailored appropriately.

About the Speaker 

Alix Shulman is a four-year breast cancer survivor who lives in the Chicago suburbs with her wife and four dogs. Following a stage 3A triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis in 2022, she transformed her treatment journey into a mission of awareness as an American Cancer Society Ambassador for Portraits of Hope. She focuses on encouraging early detection, self-exams, and the expansion of inclusive support resources for the queer community, ensuring that LGBTQ+ patients feel seen, respected, and empowered within the healthcare system.