We don’t know what causes many cancers, but some risk factors are more common among LGBTIQA+ people. Risk factors for intersex people depend on their variation. Cancer risk has often been used as a reason for medical treatment of intersex people during childhood.
Learn more about:
- Delaying or avoiding cancer screening
- Higher risk for smoking- and alcohol-related cancers
- Higher risk of HPV (human papillomavirus)
- Living with HIV
- Lower rates of pregnancy
Delaying or avoiding cancer screening
Some LGBTIQA+ people may think that screening tests do not apply to them, feel unsafe in the healthcare system, or worry about discrimination. Trans, gender-diverse and intersex people may also not receive reminders because healthcare systems can’t record both gender identity and anatomy. Some LGBTIQA+ people may find screening distressing. Missing screening can delay cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Cancer screening for LGBTQI+ people
Screening is organised testing to find cancer before any symptoms start. Finding cancer early often makes it easier to treat. In Australia, there are screening programs for breast, cervical, bowel and lung cancer. Most people with a Medicare card and in certain age groups will be invited by mail to be screened.
LGBTIQA+ people may face barriers to screening. Anyone with a cervix (including lesbian women, trans men and non-binary people), and some intersex people, should have cervical screening. You can collect your own sample in a private space at a healthcare clinic or sometimes at home – ask your doctor or nurse if this is an option for you.
Australia does not have a formal prostate screening program, but people with a prostate, including those having gender‑affirming care, should talk to their doctor about the benefits and risks of prostate checks.
Ask your doctor what screening tests are right for you.
For more information on screening, visit Can We or transhub.org.au/cancer-screening.
Higher risk for smoking- and alcohol-related cancers
Studies show LGBTIQA+ people report higher rates of smoking and alcohol use because of issues such as minority stress and lack of support. Smoking or drinking alcohol increase the risk of several cancers.
Higher risk of HPV (human papillomavirus)
HPV is a common infection that can cause cancers, including cervical, anal, throat, penile, vulvar and vaginal cancer. It can spread through sex, oral sex, fingers and shared sex toys. The HPV vaccine helps protect against the virus. For more information, visit hpvvaccine.org.au and The Bottom Line.
Living with HIV
HIV can increase the risk of certain skin cancers (e.g. Kaposi sarcoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and melanoma), anal, cervical, liver, lung, mouth and throat cancers, and lymphoma.
Lower rates of pregnancy
Pregnancy before age 30 and breastfeeding may lower the risk of breast cancer. Pregnancy and using oral contraceptives may also lower the risk of certain gynaecological cancers (e.g. ovarian and uterine cancer). Some LGBTIQA+ people are less likely than cisgender heterosexual women to have a child before age 30 or use an oral contraceptive, so they may not get these protective effects.
In Australia, about 170,000 people are diagnosed with cancer (excluding common skin cancers)5 each year, and about 1.6 million people are living with or beyond cancer. LGBTIQA+ people make up an estimated 5% of the population. This means about 8500 LGBTIQA+ people are likely to be diagnosed with cancer each year, and about 80,000 are cancer survivors.
Key resource
The information on this page is also available for download.
We thank the chief investigators from the Out with Cancer research project: Prof Jane Ussher, Prof Janette Perz, Prof Martha Hickey, Prof Suzanne Chambers, Prof Gary Dowsett, Prof Ian Davis, Prof Katherine Boydell, Prof Kerry Robinson and Dr Chloe Parton. Partner investigators were Dr Fiona McDonald and A/Prof Antoinette Anazodo. Research Associates were Dr Rosalie Power, Dr Kimberley Allison and Dr Alexandra J. Hawkey.
We thank the reviewers of our LGBTQI+ People and Cancer booklet: Prof Jane Ussher, Chair, Women’s Heath Psychology and Chief Investigator, Out with Cancer study, Western Sydney University, NSW; ACON; Dr Kimberley Allison, Out with Cancer study, Western Sydney University, NSW; Dr Katherine Allsopp, Supportive and Palliative Care Specialist, Westmead Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Antoinette Anazodo OAM, Paediatric and Adolescent Oncologist, Sydney Children’s Hospital, NSW; Megan Bathgate, Consumer; Gregory Bock, Clinical Nurse Consultant–Oncology Coordinator, Urology Cancer Nurse Coordination Service, WA Cancer & Palliative Care Network, WA; Morgan Carpenter, Executive Director, Intersex Human Rights Australia (formerly OII Australia); Prof Lorraine Chantrill, Medical Co-Director Cancer Services, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, NSW; A/Prof Ada Cheung, Endocrinologist, Head, Trans Health Research Group, Department of Medicine (Austin Health), The University of Melbourne, VIC; Bonney Corbin, Australian Women’s Health Network; Cristyn Davies, Research Fellow, Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Children’s Hospital Westmead Clinical School, NSW; Prof Ian Davis, Professor of Medicine, Monash University and Eastern Health, Medical Oncologist, Eastern Health, Chair, ANZUP Cancer Trials Group, VIC; Rebecca Dominguez, President, Bisexual Alliance Victoria; Liz Duck-Chong, Projects Coordinator, TransHub and Trans Health Equity, ACON, NSW; Lauren Giordano, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Hall & Wilcox (law firm); Natalie Halse, BCNA Consumer Representative; Jem Hensley, Consumer; Prof Martha Hickey, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, and Director of the Gynaecology Research Centre, The Women’s Hospital, VIC; Kim Hobbs, Clinical Specialist Social Worker – Gynaecological Cancer, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Dr Laura Kirsten, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Nepean Cancer Care Centre, NSW; Amber Loomis, Policy and Research Coordinator, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia; Julie McCrossin and Melissa Gibson, Consumers; Dr Fiona McDonald, Research Manager, Canteen, NSW; Dr Gary Morrison, Shine a Light (LGBTQIA+ Cancer Support Group); Penelope Murphy, Cancer Council NSW Liaison, Prince of Wales Hospital, NSW; Dr Rosalie Power, Out with Cancer study, Western Sydney University, NSW; Jan Priaulx, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Paul Scott-Williams, Consumer; Simone Sheridan, Sexual Health Nurse Consultant, Sexual Health Services, Austin Health, VIC; Cheryl Waller and Rhonda Beach, Consumers.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
