Autistic Experiences of Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer treatment involves multiple appointments, procedures, and treatments within medical environments alongside multiple interactions with healthcare professionals. Research has shown that barriers to healthcare exist for autistic people, for example, barriers relating to the medical environment, interaction and communication with healthcare professionals and sensory sensitivities associated with procedures, treatment, and their side effects; but what is the impact of cumulative exposure to these barriers in cancer care. In this talk, I will discuss this and introduce the Autistic Experiences of Breast Cancer research project that will be exploring the experiences of autistic adults who have had a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in the UK. As an insider researcher who is autistic and had a breast cancer diagnosis, I will also be sharing some of my own experiences.