Why screening matters for you
You deserve cancer prevention care that meets who you are and how you see yourself, including physically. Our community faces more barriers than other communities to getting screened and may have higher cancer risk factors.
Here’s what you should know.
General screenings by cancer type
Breast / chest cancers – If you have breast or chest tissue, talk to your doctor about mammograms or digital breast tomosynthesis. Transgender and non-binary people may still need screening even after hormone therapy or surgery.
Cervical and other gynecologic cancers – If you have a cervix, you still need Pap tests or HPV testing. Some lesbian, bisexual and trans men are mistakenly told they don’t need it because they aren’t having sex with men.
Colorectal cancer – People in LGBTQ communities are less likely to get screened for colon/rectal cancers, . Ask a doctor about colorectal screening at age 40.
Anal cancer – Gay, bisexual men and men who have sex with men (MSM), especially those living with HIV, face higher risk of anal dysplasia and cancer. Talk with your doctor about screening or referral.
Lung, prostate, other cancers – If you have lungs and a smoking history you need to discuss lung cancer screening. If you have a prostate (including many trans women unless removed) you need a prostate-cancer discussion with your doctor.
Tailored prevention steps for LGBTQ people
Ask your healthcare provider to review which organs you still have, your hormone therapy history, and your sexual behaviour, to pick the right screening tests.
Make sure your provider knows you identify as LGBTQ and is comfortable with gender and sexual diversity. Past discrimination reduces screening uptake.
Adopt healthy behaviours: quit smoking, reduce alcohol, exercise (move your body intentionally), keep weight in healthy range. These may reduce many cancer risks.
Consider getting vaccinated for HPV (human papillomavirus) if eligible. It prevents many cancers linked to sexual transmission.
Keep your screening records and ask for reminders. Many systems exclude trans/non-binary people from screening invites because of gender markers.
Action steps for you
Contact your provider and say: “I identify as ___. Here are the organs I still have and my hormone history. Which cancer screenings do I need and when?”
If you feel uncomfortable with a provider, look for one who is LGBTQ-competent.
Keep a checklist: age and organ-based screening start times; log screening results; follow up for any abnormal findings.
Share your screening history with any new provider so they won’t assume your risk is low just because you are an LGBTQ person.