A cancer diagnosis, involves tests, consultations, choices about treatment. Your sexual orientation, gender identity, anatomy, relationships, and life context matter.
Key steps in diagnosis
You’ll get imaging, biopsies, blood tests to determine the type, stage and spread of cancer.
You’ll meet a multidisciplinary team: oncologist, surgeon, radiation oncologist, possibly fertility specialist, mental-health provider.
You’ll discuss “what do we treat and how aggressive” based on staging, your health, your preferences.
You should ask: “How will treatment affect my body, my identity, my sexuality, my ongoing gender-affirmation care?”
If you are transgender or non-binary, you need to tell your team which organs are present, what hormone or affirmation therapy you are using, what surgeries you have had or plan. Your provider needs that context to plan treatment safely.
Treatment options and LGBTQ-specific considerations
Surgery – Removal of organs or tissue may affect your sense of body, your gender affirmation, your sexual function. Ask: “Will this surgery affect my current or planned gender-affirming procedures? How will I recover in relation to my gender identity?”
Radiation – Can affect bowel, bladder, fertility, sexual organs. LGBTQ patients may need counselling about how radiation interacts with hormone therapy and affirmation goals.
Hormone therapy (cancer-related) – Some cancers require suppression of hormones; if you’re already on gender-affirming hormones you’ll need specialist coordination.
Chemotherapy / other systemic therapies – Can cause side-effects like fatigue, neuropathy, hormone changes; talk about how these may change sexual desire, body image, your gender-affirming treatments.
Clinical trials – If you are eligible, ensure trial inclusion forms ask about gender identity and sexual orientation respectfully, and ask about how the protocol addresses affirmation issues. What you should ask your treatment team
What effects on fertility? Does this conflict with my gender-affirmation care?
How will treatment affect my sexuality (desire, function, pleasure) and what supports do you offer?
Will my hormone therapy (gender affirmation) conflict with cancer treatments?
Is my partner included in planning and care discussions (chosen family, same-sex partner, trans partner)?
Is this treatment plan inclusive (the clinic uses inclusive language, staff trained in LGBTQ care)?
What will survivorship look like for me?
Tips for you during treatment
Keep a list of questions and concerns. Identify one provider who will talk about your gender/sexuality issues.
Bring your partner or chosen family member to meetings. If you choose; include them in planning.
Write down how the treatment is explained to you and ask for plain-language summaries.
Ask a navigator or social worker experienced with LGBTQ patients to support you.
Keep track of your body changes, gender affirmation process, any shifts in identity or comfort, and raise them with your care team. This is all part of your care.