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Cancer and the LGBTQ+ Community
Explore the resources below to find information on cancer screenings, tools to talk to your health care providers and much more.
Cancer affects everyone, but it does not affect everyone equally.
The LGBTQ+ community faces unique barriers when accessing health care, and LGBTQ+ individuals are less likely to seek health care due to a long history of discrimination and mistrust in the health care system. Both preventive and essential care are impacted, which can result in disparities in cancer risk and treatment.
Check out the National LGBT Cancer Network’s LGBTQ terminology factsheet and intersex resources for an information glossary and additional resources.
Breast/chest and cervical cancer
Canadian Cancer Society
Breast cancer screening information for lesbian, bisexual and queer women
Breast cancer screening information for trans women
Chest cancer screening information for trans men
Cervical cancer screening information for lesbian, bisexual and queer women
Skin cancer
JAMA Dermatology
Lung cancer
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National LGBT Cancer Network
- Information on tobacco prevention and cessation among the LGBTQ+ community
- Tobacco cessation support for LGBTQ+ communities
National LGBT Tobacco Control Network
Prostate cancer
GW Cancer Center – The George Washington University
General health
- American Cancer Society
- CenterLink Find a LGBTQ+ community center near you
- GW Cancer Center – The George Washington University “I Want You to Know” printable card (Designed to help you begin a conversation with your provider about your identity and care preferences.)
- Human Rights Campaign Learn more about your health care rights, including hospital visitation and patient non-discrimination
- LGBTQ+ Health Care Directory Find LGBTQ+-friendly health care near you (LGBTQ+-affirming therapy, family medicine, gender affirming care, trans & nonbinary health, PrEP, obstetrics and gynecology)
- Movement Advancement Project Medicaid coverage information for transgender-related health care
- National Center for Transgender Equality Medicare coverage information for transgender-related health care
- National LGBT Cancer Network Cancer survivor peer-support group sign up
- National Resource Center On LGBTQ+ Aging Resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender older adults, their families and caregivers
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
- Indian Health Service Health resources for LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit people
At the 2022 Advocacy Workshop, the Prevent Cancer Foundation brought together patient advocacy organizations and LGBTQ+ community and health experts to discuss what needs to change. Watch the discussion:
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