Breast Cancer Screening attendance rates for trans and non-binary patients can be hard to track as the NHS system does not monitor a person’s trans identity, but a peer-reviewed study shows they are less likely than cisgender patients to attend routine screening. Bisexual women were also less likely than cisgender women to attend.
NHS Breast Cancer Screening invitations arrive after the age of 50. However, a letter will only be automatically triggered if the patient is registered as female (or indeterminate) at their GP surgery. This system can miss people who are eligible for lifesaving screening, such as trans men with breast tissue who are registered as male with a GP.
Research[1] tells us that trans women and non-binary people registered male at birth who have taken feminising hormones are at a 46x increased risk of breast cancer, but this risk is no greater than their cisgender female peers. So, the NHS Breast Screening Programme can and should be recommended for trans and non-binary people who have taken feminising hormones for five years or more.
The peer-reviewed study[2] recommends that “enhanced cancer prevention outreach is needed among gender and sexual minorities”.
A new campaign has been launched to address this issue and aims to positively impact the LGBTIQ+ community’s understanding of, and attendance to, the Breast Screening Programme.
Alongside the support for LGBTIQ+ patients, the campaign – a joint venture between the UK’s only LGBTIQ+ cancer charity, Live Through This and NHS North East London Cancer Alliance – also provided education and support for healthcare professionals working in local breast clinics.
Stewart O’Callaghan, founder and CEO of Live Through This, explains the importance of education and engagement in the LGBTIQ+ community: “Our community can face multiple barriers when trying to access the vital Breast Screening service, whether around receiving an invitation, having fears about the appointment, or just feeling disconnected from the usual messaging and campaigns. That’s why Best For My Chest was created: to let our community know that this service is for them, and that they’ll be treated with respect”.
The team dedicated twelve months to engaging with healthcare practitioners, alongside the LGBTIQ+ community, to ensure those working in the NHS can provide essential care specific to their needs.
Jake Chambers, Project Manager from NHS North East London Cancer Alliance, said: “One of the essential elements of the campaign has been education within the healthcare system. The training provided by Live Through This to the healthcare professionals in our breast clinics has been fundamental to the success of this campaign. The response from the professionals has been incredibly positive and well received”.
The Best For My Chest website provides the LGBTIQ+ community with essential support, advice and real-life experiences. Live Through This are also able to provide support materials for healthcare professionals who may wish to educate themselves and their teams.
Visit www.bestformychest.com to find out more and get in touch.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4605197/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4605197/
