Abstract
Sexual and gender minority (SGM) cancer survivors face unmet care needs in accessing cancer health information and social support despite high satisfaction with treatment. SGM patients often delay care due to concerns of discrimination in healthcare settings, though the care experiences of SGM skin cancer survivors are less known. SGM individuals, particularly sexual minority men, report higher skin cancer prevalence and related risk behaviors than heterosexual men. This study aims to describe SGM skin cancer survivors' perceptions of the care environment and availability of SGM-specific survivorship resources. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the OUT: National Cancer Survey conducted from September 2020 to March 2021. Among 2,528 survey respondents, 96 self-reported a history of skin cancer, with 33% having keratinocyte carcinomas (KC) only and 67% having melanoma. While 69% reported treatment in welcoming environments, 91% noted the absence of welcoming cues. Only 23% used social support specific to cancer survivorship, despite 62% valuing access to LGBTQI+-inclusive survivorship support. KC survivors reported less access to SGM-specific cancer information compared to melanoma survivors. These findings highlight gaps in dermatologic care for SGM skin cancer survivors. Dermatologists can address these needs by developing targeted health education resources, integrating identity-affirming information into care plans, and establishing inclusive environments through visible LGBTQI + cues and training staff in identity-affirming care. While limited by a small sample size, underrepresentation of gender and racial-ethnic minorities, and reliance on unvalidated survey tools, this study highlights the significant lack of data on SGM skin cancer survivors' experiences. We provide valuable insights into the unmet care needs of SGM skin cancer survivors. Future research should build on this foundational evidence to further examine differences in care experiences across skin cancer types and treatment settings, aiming to optimize support for SGM patients.