“At Perlmutter Cancer Center, advocating for what was right for my body and what my quality of life would be after cancer treatment was a natural part of the conversation,” says Kiara St. James.
CREDIT: NYU LANGONE STAFF
Kiara St. James is no stranger to standing up to adversity, whether it’s the marginalization of transgender people of color—or her own cancer diagnosis. As executive director of the New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG), she has been at the forefront of creating new opportunities for the transgender community and creating culturally affirming spaces in and beyond New York City.
When St. James received a diagnosis of anal cancer in October 2022, it came as a bit of a shock. She’s always been someone who adheres to preventive care, taking medications as recommended. Although she successfully completed chemotherapy and radiation treatment, a routine follow-up biopsy in early 2024 revealed that the cancer had returned. St. James asked close friends to recommend a cancer center where she could receive a second opinion and the kind of care she needed.
“I found myself triggered by interactions with my previous oncologist, the way he’d relay information with so much alarm. He’d say things like, ‘Oh, this isn’t good’ in response to a test result and make me feel like I was going to die,” she explains. “I needed a doctor who would treat me with humanity and empathy, who would listen to my needs in creating a treatment plan.”
VIDEO: St. James discusses her experiences at NYU Langone, where she found “more nuanced” care for her conditions than elsewhere.
All Signs Point to Perlmutter Cancer Center
One friend, a leader of a national LGBTQ+ cancer network, recommended NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, noting the affirming care supported by its LGBTQ+ Cancer Care and Research Program. When St. James entered Perlmutter Cancer Center—38th Street, she knew she’d come to the right place.
Beyond the Pride signage she saw at the front desk and clinical stations that specifically included transgender representation, St. James found compassion across every interaction, from warm handshakes to a team of clinicians who truly listened. Importantly, medical oncologist Rafael Winograd, MD, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, readily presented St. James with nonsurgical treatment options, in contrast with her previous care experience.ac
“I felt before that my doctor jumped to surgery, and almost glossed over the fact that it would likely be disabling given the location of my tumor,” she explains. “At Perlmutter Cancer Center, advocating for what was right for my body and what my quality of life would be after cancer treatment was a natural part of the conversation.”
Tailoring Care to the Transgender Experience
St. James notes that the center’s multidisciplinary approach supports the need for truly holistic care when transgender people seek cancer treatment. Michele B. Glodowski, MD, a specialist in transgender endocrinology, helped her tailor her hormonal therapy to ensure her overall health was prioritized through her cancer care.
Additionally, she says the patient education offered by the LGBTQ+ Cancer Care and Research Program has been eye-opening. She did not realize that transgender people may be at greater risk of developing anal, lung, and liver cancer.
Today, St. James continues her recovery and plans to share her personal experience and lessons learned through her advocacy work to help the transgender community advocate for their own health.
“As LGBTQ+ people are living longer, we need better awareness of the steps we need to take to stay healthy,” she says. “And to feel like NYU Langone wants to give us the spaces for those conversations, to help us do that—that’s so affirming.”
