The National LGBT Cancer Network

Lesbians and cancer

Definitive research on the incidence of cancer in lesbians has yet to be conducted and published. However, there is a body of evidence suggesting that lesbians have a dense cluster of risk factors, significantly raising their risk of developing breast cancer as well as several other types of cancer. Some conflicting evidence also exists, highlighting the need for state of the art research. Again, increased risks are coupled with lower screening rates for this population, resulting in cancers being detected when they are more difficult to treat.

For lesbians, the four cancer risk factors most often cited are:

• Increased rates of smoking
• Increased rates of alcohol consumption
• Delayed childbirth until after age 30 or not having biological children at all
• Higher rates of obesity and high fat diets

For more information, browse any of the articles below.

• Cancer and the LGBT Community
  • The LGBT Community's Disproportionate Cancer Burden
  • Barriers to LGBT Healthcare
  • LGBT Survivorship Issues
  • The Work of the National LGBT Cancer Network
  • Digest 1 (6/11-9/11)
  • Digest 2 (5/11- 12/11)
• Lesbians and Cancer
  • Lesbians and Breast Cancer
  • Lesbians and Ovarian Cancer
  • Interview with a Lesbian Ovarian Cancer Survivor 1
  • Interview with a Lesbian Ovarian Cancer Survivor 2
  • Mimi's Story
• Gay Men and Cancer
  • Anal Cancer, HIV and Gay Men
• Bisexuals and Cancer
  • Bisexual Women and Breast Cancer
  • Bisexual Women and Ovarian Cancer
  • Anal Cancer, HIV and Bisexual Men
• Transgender/Gender-Nonconforming People and Cancer
  • Transgender Men and Ovarian Cancer
• HIV and Cancer
• HPV and Cancer
  • HPV and Oral Cancer
• Cancer Resources for the LGBT Community