Perspective Same-Sex Couples Matter in Cancer Care

The importance of couplehood in the context of cancer has been highlighted in recent national debates over same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples in Illinois, North Carolina, Indiana, and Georgia all sued for legal recognition in 2013 to 2014 when one member of the couple was diagnosed with or died as a result of cancer.1-3 Despite this national attention, research on and integration of same-sex couples in cancer care remains inconsistent. Well-publi-cized studies have highlighted the powerful impact that heterosex-ual marriage has on cancer survivorship4 as well as the lack of data on the relationships of sexual and gender minority adults diag-nosed with cancer.5 Our intention with this perspective piece is to outline areas in need of further development for this underserved population of couples. Throughout this piece, we will use the term “sexual minority” to describe lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons and individuals wit