It’s a real bugger, isn’t it dear? details the personal journeys, through stories and poems of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer (GLBTIQ) people who have been affected by cancer. The fifteen stories from men and women of different ages are not only moving, but also optimistic and often humorous. As it says in the introduction to the book some of them “have a happy ending, some have a tentative but positive note; others reflect a state of limbo.”
The stories capture many experiences and reactions to a cancer diagnosis (several of which will sound familiar to people with HIV): denial, amazing support, physical challenges, wonderful doctors - and less than wonderful doctors, and often a newfound pleasure in precious everyday experiences.
The book is published by the GLBTIQ with Cancer Network and Gay Men's Health (a program of the AIDS Council of South Australia - ACSA). One of the aims of the publishers is to raise awareness in the GLBTIQ community about cancer, and how to avoid it and its effects, and cancer awareness is also an increasingly important issue for people with HIV as we live longer.
If you would like a free copy, call your local PLWHA NSW (9361 6011) or ACON (9206 2000) or you can also download a PDF version from ACSA’s website (www.acsa.org.au)
