We look at some of the challenges you might face as a Trans and/or gender-diverse person diagnosed with cancer.
Lack of experience
It may be harder to find cancer specialists who understand how trans health needs affect cancer care. It can be difficult dealing with health professionals who think of sex as binary, and you may fear being misgendered.
Misgendering
Health professionals may incorrectly assume your gender or that of your partner and use the wrong words or pronouns when referring to you. You might find this misgendering upsetting, and it could undermine your trust and confidence.
Outdated forms
Medical forms may not include options to record your gender, pronouns or sexual orientation. It can also get complicated if the gender or name you use on the form doesn’t match the details on official documents, such as your Medicare card.
Using gender-affirming hormones for a long time
Taking feminising hormones (such as oestrogen or testosterone blockers) may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer over time, but the risk is still much lower than for cisgender women. Current evidence shows that taking testosterone does not increase cancer risk. For most people, the benefits of gender-affirming hormones outweigh any small change in cancer risk.
Services that are gendered
Some cancers are screened and treated in a cisgender way (e.g. ovarian cancer in a women’s hospital). This can feel isolating if you are trans and/or gender diverse. Cancer care teams may also be less experienced treating people whose bodies don’t match typical gender expectations (e.g. a woman with prostate cancer), which can make care feel awkward. Support services may also be gendered (e.g. for prostate or breast cancer), which can make it harder to find the right support
At the time of my diagnosis I was still passing as female and I was able to ‘fit in’ in the necessary environments like gynae offices. The psychological impact of having gynaecological parts involved was not lost on me.
JAX (TRANS MAN, OVARIAN CANCER)
→ READ MORE: Ways to manage challenges
Key resource
The information on this page is also available for download.
This resource was developed as part of the Western Sydney University Out with Cancer research project.
Prof Alison Brand, Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney and Director, Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Dr Daniel Brown, Clinical Psychologist and Researcher, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, VIC; Dr Rosalie Power, Senior Research Fellow and Deputy HDR Director, Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, NSW; Dr Sarah Bishop Browne, Palliative and Supportive Care Staff Specialist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Collette Butler, Clinical Nurse Consultant and McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Cancer Support Centre, Launceston, TAS; Prof Ada Cheung, Endocrinologist, NHMRC and Dame Kate Campbell Research Fellow and Head, Trans Health Research Group, The University of Melbourne, VIC; Dr Tiffany Daly, Radiation Oncologist, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Raymond Terrace, QLD; A/Prof Ian Faragher, The University of Melbourne and Head, Colorectal and General Surgery Unit, Western Health, VIC; Hall & Wilcox (law firm); A/Prof Peter Heathcote, Urologist, Brisbane Urology Clinic, QLD; Prof Richard Hillman, Senior Staff Specialist, HIV and Immunology, St Vincent’s Health Network, Sydney, NSW; Mads Kennedy, Project Coordinator, Silver Rainbow, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, NSW; Dr Sanjeev Kumar, Breast Cancer Medical Oncologist and Clinician Scientist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Madeline Lee, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Luke Mitchell, Urological and Sexual Health Nurse Practitioner, Men’s Health Melbourne, VIC; Nadia Reddish, Consumer; Dr Stephen Rowles, Sexual Health Physician and General Practitioner, The Centre Clinic and Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, VIC; Teresa Simpson, Senior Clinician, Psycho-Oncology Social Work Service, Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool Hospital, NSW; Mel Tume, Consumer; Prof Jane Ussher, Professor of Women’s Health Psychology and Chief Investigator, Out with Cancer Study, Western Sydney University, NSW; Syr Lumi Vor, Community Member; John Wenborn, Shine a Light (LGBTQIA+ Cancer Support Group). We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who worked on the first the edition of this title. We particularly acknowledge ACON and Intersex Human Rights Australia for their extensive input on the first edition. Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag designed by Valentino Vecchietti (2021).
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
