Take part in our project
We’re inviting trans and gender diverse people with lived experience of gynecologic cancer to take part in a new project focused on improving care: TRANSforming Gyne Cancer Care.
This project is rooted in community and guided by people most impacted. The team are queer and trans, some with lived experience of gyne cancer too.
Your experiences matter. If you want to share them we’d be honoured to listen.
This project may be a good fit for you if you:
-
Gender diverse identities are expansive and self-defined, and the language people use can change over time. Some gender diverse identities are transgender, agender, demigender, genderfluid, genderqueer, intersex, non-binary, omnigender, and Two-Spirit.
-
Gynecologic cancers are cancers of the cervix, ovary, uterus (sometimes called the endometrium), vagina, neovagina, or vulva. We use anatomical terms to describe diagnoses but we recognize that people may use different language for their bodies, and we’ll follow your lead on the terms you’re most comfortable using.
-
This project is currently offered in English. If you’d like support from a trusted person to help interpret or communicate, we’re happy to talk about what might work.
☑️ Are 19 or older and live in Canada
If you fit the criteria and you want to take part, you’ll be invited to a guided conversation where we’ll listen to what mattered in your care.
Participation is flexible, accessible, and guided by your comfort. You will receive an honorarium for taking part.
What is involved in the study?
Interested in taking part? We’ll begin with a short video call to see if this project is a good fit. During that call, we’ll ask a few eligibility questions, explain what participation involves, answer your questions, and talk about any accessibility needs.
If you decide to take part, you’ll be invited to a guided online conversation (about an hour) to share what mattered in your gynecological cancer care. The conversation is recorded with your consent so we don’t miss your words. Recordings are deleted after they have been turned into written notes.
FAQs
-
We’ll plan for a 60 minute call to cover the questions and allow time for you to share your experiences.
-
Yes. Once we have had the initial screening chat and discussed what is involved and you have decided you would like to take part, the questions will be available.
-
No, you can choose to skip any questions completely or come back to them later on in the interview.
-
There will be two people from the interview team with you for the discussion. The interviewers have a mix of lived-experience with research experience and have had training in trauma-informed interviewing. The interview team are James, Tristan, Amanda, Kim, and Chelsea - you can read more about them in the ‘meet the team’ section. If you have a preference of who is on the call you can let us know and we will do our best to accommodate this.
-
Yes. As long as you have an internet connection and can have a video call.
-
At the start of the call we would prefer to say hello with cameras on, but after that if you would like to have your camera off that is OK.
-
Yes, of course. Just let us know who will be coming with you.
-
If you choose to take part, we only collect the information needed for the project.
Your name and contact details are not attached to what you share, and your medical records are not accessed. When we remove identifying details, your information is labelled with a participant code, you can also choose a pseudonym (a name you’d like us to use instead). Your real name will not appear in written materials. Only the research team (and if required, trained ethics and privacy reviewers) can see the study information. Everyone involved is required to keep your information confidential.
Interview recordings are stored securely and only used to accurately capture what you say. Recordings are turned into written notes and then deleted. We will carefully remove names or identifying details from written records. If you mention any names during the conversation they won’t be included in the final materials. We’ll talk with you about what feels comfortable and answer any questions before you decide to take part. You do not need to tell us anything that you do not feel comfortable sharing.
-
We know that your experience may have been difficult or even traumatising. Only you can decide if you want to share but, if you do, we will do our best to make this process as easy and supported as possible. We will build intentional pauses, avoid asking directly about what didn’t go well and focus on what could have made things better and/or what went well. We will also explore with you what we can do together to make your interview experience more comfortable.
-
Yes. Participants receive an honorarium to thank them for their time and contributions. We’ll go over more details during the initial call.
Meet the team
This project is guided by people who bring different kinds of knowledge to the work including lived experience of cancer, clinical care, research, and community support.
Many of us are queer, trans, and non-binary. Some of us have personal experience navigating gynecological cancer. Others work in gynecologic oncology (oncologists, nurses, psychosocial support, researchers). What we share is a commitment to affirming and inclusive cancer care that is grounded in the needs of the community.
-
James
James Moriarty spends his time playing dad to his young cat, Rigby, and playing unofficial therapist to his friend group. He is a survivor of stage IV endometrial cancer and thinks modern medicine is just swell. James hails from St. John's, Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland) which is both the ancestral home of the Beothuk, and an island that is part of Mi'kma'ki, the ancestral and traditional territory of the Mi'kmaq.
-
Rae
I'm Rae (they/them), a trans, non-binary musician and author. I was diagnosed and treated for cervical cancer in 2020. I sustained critical complications that resulted in years of intense medicalization. I (like so many marginalized people) am often subject to human rights violations when I access health care. By sharing my story and participating in community building, my hope is to help contribute to awareness, remove barriers and create treatment environments where human rights violations aren't tolerated.
-
Tristan
Tristan (he/him), the self-proclaimed "Reluctant Unicorn" is a man of trans experience, Stage 3C ovarian cancer thriver, registered social worker, clinical oncology counsellor, writer, researcher, inclusive care advocate, international speaker, and proud community partner of Queering Cancer. Tristan also volunteers his time as 2SLGBTQIA+ patient representative for the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology's Advocacy Committee. Tristan gratefully resides on Treaty 1 Territory (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and is honoured to be a part of the TRANSforming Gyne Cancer Project.
-
Laura
I am a queer, non-binary person of white settler heritage. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. In 2022, I tested positive for a genetic mutation which means I am at increased risk for a few types of cancer. I have been through multiple surgeries, procedures, tests, and treatment since my diagnosis. My wonderful partner, kiddo and dog have been great supports along the way. I am a social worker with many years of experience working alongside the communities impacted by HIV and continue to learn from people living with HIV about what it means to live with illness, and to be great advocates for health throughout our lives. As well, I joined A Breast in A Boat, a breast cancer dragon boat team, and from my teammates I continue to learn what it means to be a strong and resilient cancer survivor. I am a board member for Queering Cancer. I decided to be a part of this project to create more just and equitable support for trans and non-binary folks with diagnoses of cancer as well as to help create a community of support for the great variety of cancer professionals and caregivers who care deeply about gender and sexually diverse folks.
-
Lauren
I’m Lauren (she/her), a queer psychosocial oncology researcher. Growing up queer in Newfoundland taught me the importance of community, and I bring this lesson to my work improving supports for 2SLGBTQ+ folks with cancer. Outside research I’m a queer film nerd, if you need suggestions I’m your go-to!
-
Jenn
I’m Jennifer (she/her), a Radiation Oncologist, educator, and researcher at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. I care for people with breast and gynecologic cancers and am committed to providing inclusive, patient-centered care. Much of my work focuses on identifying and addressing gaps for sexual and gender diverse patients, with the goal of creating more inclusive environments and advancing equitable cancer care for everyone.
-
Margo
I’m Margo, (she/her) an oncology Social Worker at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, a cis-gender, out proud lesbian and Clinical Lead for the Sexual & Gender Diversity in Cancer Care Program. I have a passion for health equity issues and inclusive care combined with a deep appreciation for the many barriers and challenges that 2SLGBTQ folks may encounter. When I’m not "social working", you may find me taking care of my plants, always with a cup of coffee close by! I feel honoured to be involved in this important initiative which will make a real difference to our community.
-
Kim
I’m Kim (she/they), a gender queer radiation therapist, community researcher, and co-lead of Queering Cancer. I live and work on the east coast in Mi'kma'ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq. Having experienced being “othered" in healthcare and seeing first-hand the barriers and support gaps for 2SLGBTQI+ people with cancer, my work centres on making cancer care more inclusive for queer and trans folks.
-
Amanda
I'm Amanda (she/her) and I am (in no particular order) a queer human, mom, cat mom, researcher, radiation therapist, Pokemon Go player and Queering Cancer co-lead with wife Kim. I live and work on the east coast in Mi'kma'ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq. My research focuses on 2SLGBTQI+ cancer care, story telling, and coming out.
-
Christian
Christian Schulz-Quach (he/him) is a German-Canadian existential psychoanalyst, palliative care psychiatrist, and psychosocial oncologist whose work centres on gender, sexuality, and queer experiences of illness and care. He serves as Program Director of the Sexual and Gender Diversity in Cancer Care Program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, where he develops equity-focused psychosocial oncology services for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and recently received the 2025 CAPO Education Excellence Award for this work. Drawing on an advanced diploma in Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity, his scholarship and teaching explore queer and trans illness narratives, relational ethics, and gender-affirming approaches at the end of life, including through his documentary On Queer Aging and Endings, selected for the 2026 BFI Flare LGBTQ+ Film Festival.
-
Nazlin
I'm Nazlin (she/her) a 2SLGBTQI+ Ally clinical nurse specialist. I work in gynecology oncology and am a member of our Sexual and Gender Diversity in Cancer Care (SGDc) committee, working towards improving the lives of patients and their chosen ones, who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ through research and promoting inclusivity.
-
Evan
Dr. Evan T. Taylor, BSW, MSW, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley whose research program examines how institutional systems shape health, care, and decision-making. They focus on the social determinants of health and care experiences of sexuality and gender-diverse communities.
-
Chelsea
I’m Chelsea (she/her), a community based researcher at a national health not-for-profit called Praxus Health. I'm passionate about creating supportive environments for patients and underserved community members to be involved in research and health system improvement. When I'm not doing research, you'll usually find me coaching on a soccer field.
Get in touch
Email amanda.bolderston@uhn.ca if you have questions or are interested in taking part.
Partners
This research is funded by a Health Equity Research Grant of the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS grant HE-24). We are grateful to our project partners, collaborators, and implementers.
