Prevention and empowerment
Our goal is to increase the accessibility, effectiveness and feasibility of prevention in care and well-being. We do this by ...
FIGHT-CancER
Fostering Inclusive and Gender-equitable screening and HPV vaccination using (shared) decision-making Tool for Cancer prevention: Empowering and promoting Resilience among transgender and gender diverse people and healthcare providers in Flanders.
FIGHT-CancER is a research project led by Thomas More University of Applied Sciences and the University of Antwerp, aimed at improving access to cancer prevention services for transgender and gender diverse individuals in Flanders.
Through a participatory and multidisciplinary approach, we work alongside transgender and gender diverse individuals to understand their experiences in accessing cancer prevention services, and we engage healthcare professionals and other stakeholders in co-creating more inclusive and responsive prevention practices. As part of this initiative, we are developing an online decision-aid, designed to support transgender and gender diverse individuals in making informed health decisions. The decision aid will also assist healthcare providers in delivering more inclusive, respectful, and effective communication around cancer risks and preventive care.
Date
From until
Why is this project necessary?
A visit to the doctor should be simple: you seek medical advice, and a trained healthcare provider ensures you receive the care you need. But for many transgender and gender-diverse individuals, healthcare experiences are often more complex. Instead of focusing solely on their health, they may find themselves needing to explain their bodies and needs, correct misinformation, or even justify their right to medical attention.
The same holds true for cancer prevention. Transgender and gender-diverse individuals frequently face limited access to clear, relevant information and appropriate services - making it more difficult to engage in preventive care with confidence.
In Flanders, we have well-organized cancer screening programs designed to catch cancer early. Breast cancer - one of the most common cancers in the region - can affect anyone with breast tissue, whether due to natal puberty or hormone treatment. Cervical cancer is a risk for anyone with a cervix, particularly those who haven't been vaccinated against HPV.
However, only individuals who are legally registered as female receive invitations for breast and cervical cancer screenings. This approach excludes many transgender and gender-diverse individuals who still need these screenings, while some who have undergone gender-affirming care and no longer have the relevant anatomy may continue to receive invitations - leading to confusion or emotional discomfort.
Barriers extend beyond invitation systems. Access can also be limited by gaps in provider knowledge. Many healthcare professionals have not received adequate training in transgender health, which can make it challenging for patients to receive accurate information and appropriate recommendations. This is not a matter of individual neglect, but of systemic shortcomings in education and support.
The result is lower screening participation, delayed diagnoses, and poorer health outcomes. This is not merely an administrative issue - it is a pressing public health concern that calls for inclusive, targeted solutions.
How do we approach this?
We follow the principle “nothing about us without us”, placing the lived experiences of transgender and gender-diverse individuals at the center of our work. Our approach combines research, collaboration, and practical tools to improve access to cancer prevention in Flanders.
To do this, we are:
- Collecting data through a large-scale survey
- Collecting data through a large-scale survey to better understand access to cancer prevention services among transgender and gender-diverse people in Flanders — where reliable data is currently lacking.
- If you are over 18, identify as transgender, gender diverse, or intersex, and live in Flanders, we invite you to take part in the survey and share your experiences. Click here to join the survey.
- Conducting interviews and focus groups
- With both transgender and gender-diverse individuals (experts by experience) and healthcare professionals, to gain deeper insights into personal experiences, provider perspectives, and system-level barriers.
- Would you like to share your story or experience? We welcome participants for upcoming interviews and focus groups. Get in touch!
- Collaborating with a broad network of partners
- We are building a multidisciplinary network and maintaining active dialogue with key stakeholders—including gender-affirming care clinics in Antwerp, Ghent, and Genk, Domus Medica, Violett, Çavaria, and other community organizations. Their expertise and perspectives help ensure that our findings and solutions are relevant, inclusive, and grounded in real-world needs.
- Developing an online decision aid
- A digital tool designed to support transgender and gender-diverse individuals in making informed decisions about cancer prevention. It will also help healthcare providers communicate more clearly and inclusively about screening and risk.
- A digital tool designed to support transgender and gender-diverse individuals in making informed decisions about cancer prevention. It will also help healthcare providers communicate more clearly and inclusively about screening and risk.
Who are we?
This project is funded by Kom op tegen Kanker (Stand up to Cancer), the Flemish cancer society.
The project is a collaboration between following partners:
- Thomas More University of Applied Sciences: Liesbet Van Bos (projectcoördinator), Wessel van de Veerdonck (PhD) en Janet Takens (PhD)
- University of Antwerp: Prof. Guido Van Hal, Prof. Alex Vorsters, Dr. Allegra Ferrari en Drs. Deborah Herrera
- Domus Medica: Anneleen Caluwaerts
- Violett: Dr. Karen De Vos
- Cavaria: Olivia Wittock
- Vito: Annelies Van Den Eynde (PhD)
Researchers Thomas More
Researcher
Liesbet Van Bos
Liesbet Van Bos is a researcher in the People and Well-being Research Group, research line Prevention and empowerment. Her focus is currently on co-creative research.
Research line coordinator - Researcher
Wessel van de Veerdonk
Wessel van de Veerdonk (PhD) is research coordinator for Prevention and empowerment in the Human and Welfare Research Group. His research focus is currently on optimal preventive health care specifically for people with reduced access.
Research line coordinator - Researcher
Janet Takens
Janet is an experienced communications researcher with a passion for government and sustainability communications. She is especially skilled in quantitative research methods. As a former spokesperson and consultant, she knows communications practice.
Related research lines