Cancer Screening and Cancer Care in the LGBTQ+ Community

Jun 24 2:16pm | Angie Murad, Patient Educator | @muradangie

Cancer screening and cancer care are both important components of maintaining good health, yet people in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) community face unique challenges in accessing these essential services. Currently, in the United States 7.2% of adults identify as LGBTQ+. Advocating for inclusive and culturally competent cancer care is vital in allowing all people equal health outcomes.

People in the LGBTQ+ community experience several barriers to cancer screening and cancer care, including discrimination, lack of provider knowledge and socioeconomic challenges. Previous or feared stigma and discrimination causes hesitancy to seek medical care, leading to later-stage cancer diagnoses that make treatment more challenging.

One concerning aspect within the healthcare setting is lack of provider knowledge of health concerns for LGBTQ+ people. Prior to starting cancer treatment, fertility preservation is offered less often for LGBTQ+ people. During or after cancer treatment, there are often unaddressed sexual side effects from treatment. In the transgender and gender diverse community, people may not receive cancer screening for organs they no longer identify with. And more research is needed to understand the cancer risk associated with hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgery. Training for providers can help them understand cancer risk factors and the types of screening needed to diagnose cancer early in LGBTQ+ people, and to offer cancer care that addresses their unique needs.

The American Cancer Society reports additional barriers to care due to lower rates of insurance coverage and often living below the poverty level. It is not that individuals in the LGBTQ+ community have additional risk for cancer overall, but differences in social, economic and behavioral factors influence their risk for certain types of cancer. The National LGBTQ+ Cancer Network reports a “cluster of factors” contributing to increased cancer incidence and later diagnosis, including delayed cancer screening, alcohol use, smoking, excess body weight, HIV infection and HPV infection. These factors can be attributed to the stress of living as a sexual and gender minority in the United States, resulting in poorer cancer outcomes and unaddressed cancer treatment side effects.

If you or someone you care about feels discriminated against, do not be afraid to get a second opinion with someone with whom you can be open about your sexual orientation, gender identity and health behaviors. These conversations can be difficult, but they are necessary to improve cancer outcomes. Being your authentic self is vital to receiving inclusive care personalized for you.

Watch this video to learn more from Dr. Jewell Kling, a Mayo Clinic physician who brings awareness to LGBTQ+ cancer concerns and discusses how to overcome the challenges LGBTQ+ people face to get the care they deserve:

Addressing Cancer Concerns in the LGBTQ+ Community