Is cancer a concern for transgender people?
Whereas cancer among transgender people is listed among research priorities (10), most of the concerns pertaining to the occurrence and outcomes of malignant tumors in this population are based on anecdotal evidence or on the general considerations of possible disease mechanisms (13–18).
Does hormone replacement therapy alter the risk of cancer in transgender people?
Because the risk on certain types of cancer differs between men and women, and some of these differences are attributed to exposure to sex hormones, the cancer risk may be altered in transgender people receiving HT. Although reliable epidemiologic data are sparse, the available data will be discussed in this article.
How can we measure cancer incidence among transgender people?
Analysis of cancer surveillance data Although population-based data on cancer incidence among transgender people are not available, some information can be obtained from the US National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.
Why are transwomen more likely to get prostate cancer?
It is possible that prostate cancers in transwomen are more aggressive because these malignancies develop despite low levels of testosterone and high levels of estrogen (38). All reported cases of prostate cancer among transwomen who underwent gender affirmation had orchiectomy, and all were receiving hormonal therapy.
What kind of doctors do transgender patients need?
Care for transgender patients should ideally involve not just oncologists, but other specialists such as adolescent medicine physicians, endocrinologists, psychosocial providers, and in some cases gynecologists or urologists. In a 2019 commentary in The Lancet Oncology, Liu, Haas-Kogan, and other colleagues offer several practice recommendations, including:
Why is it important to have a dialogue with transgender patients?
Starting a dialogue. It’s important to put patients at ease when you meet. Many transgender patients are reluctant to come to medical appointments, having experienced discrimination or made to feel “other” in health care settings. Cancer screenings like mammograms, cervical exams, and even colonoscopies often cause stress.
How many patients received gender affirming hormone therapy?
Of the 37 patients, 28 had received gender-affirming hormone therapy, 16 had undergone at least one gender-affirming operation, and 16 initiated gender-affirming hormones or surgery after being diagnosed with cancer.
Can transgender people have surgery?
Increasingly, transgender youth and adults are undergoing (or planning) gender-affirming surgery and taking masculinizing or feminizing hormones. If they have cancer, these treatments can have implications for their care, and cancer treatments in turn can have implications for their gender-affirming care.
Is orchiectomy a transgender treatment?
the impact of elective orchiectomy on prostate cancer treatment in a transgender woman. the potential impact of gender-affirming estrogen therapy on levothyroxine dosing for hypothyroidism (secondary to a hematopoietic stem cell transplant) These are just a few care scenarios that can come up. Many will raise issues that are sensitive ...
Can a mammogram cause stress?
Cancer screenings like mammograms, cervical exams, and even colonoscopies often cause stress . Patients may put off care and present with later-stage disease, and then be reluctant to come for treatments. First, respectfully ask about patients’ gender identity and pronouns.
Can transmacular patients have testosterone?
Many transmasculine patients would prefer testosterone, and it is important for endocrinologists to be part of such discussions. A recent case report discussed a 17-year-old transmasculine patient who developed a serous borderline ovarian tumor while receiving testosterone and underwent a right salpingo-oophorectomy.
What hormones are used in transgender men?
There are also concerns about testosterone, the principle male sex hormone, and main hormone taken by transgender men. Excess testosterone (a type of androgen. X Any male hormone. The most commonly known is testosterone. Sometimes used in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. hormone) can be converted by the body into estrogen, ...
What are the risk factors for breast cancer?
Reduce your controllable breast cancer risk factors— smoking, alcohol, obesity , and lack of exercise. Regardless of your gender identity, everyone can benefit from this. X Anything that increases or decreases a person’s chance of developing a disease. , of if you are a transgender man who has not had chest surgery.
Does estrogen help with breast cancer?
Its primary function is to regulate the menstrual cycle and assist in the production of secondary sex characteristics such as breasts. It may even play a role in the production of cancer cells in the breast tissue. . We don’t know exactly how estrogen helps breast cancer to grow, but we know that it’s related, and much of our current preventative ...
Is breast cancer related to gender?
Since breast cancer is so tied to gender, educators in our breast health education programs are often asked how breast cancer risk changes for the transgender community. We’ve previously discussed sex reassignment surgery. Here’s what you need to know about transgender hormone therapy and its impact on breast cancer.
Can genetic counselors test for cancer?
The genetic counselor may encourage certain individuals to undergo genetic testing to better assess cancer risks. At this time, there is no recommendation on how to proceed with hormone therapy when a trans individual is found to have a harmful genetic mutation.
Should cancer patients have a family history?
Everyone should obtain a thorough family medical history. Patients should discuss any cancer history in their family, especially any known genetic mutations, with their doctor. They may make a referral for a consultation with a certified genetic counselor.
Does hormone therapy affect breast cancer?
But for those that have taken hormones, preliminary studies show that hormone therapy may have an effect on breast cancer risk levels.
Why are trans people less comfortable with health care?
Regular Medical Care – Because early detection is so important, risk is increased in those who don’t get regular medical/gynecological care. Because of concerns around the revealing of their gender identity, trans people tend to feel less comfortable about health care and attend fewer appointments.
What is the genetic risk of ovarian cancer?
Family/Genetic History – People with a family history of ovarian cancer are at an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer themselves. Some of these people have mutations in the genes called BRCA1 or BRCA2 that raise their risk of several kinds of cancer.
What percentage of ovarian cancer is hereditary?
Hereditary ovarian cancer makes up approximately 5 to 10% of all new diagnoses. Race/Ethnicity – Ovarian cancer rates are higher among Caucasians than other racial groups. One in forty Ashkenazi Jews carry a genetic predisposition to developing ovarian cancer. Age – The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age.
How many people died from ovarian cancer in one year?
The National Cancer Institute estimates that in one year approximately 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed in the US and that nearly 14,000 people died from the disease. In New York State, in one year, just over 1500 people were diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and approximately 1000 died from the disease.
Is ovarian cancer rare in transgender men?
Ovarian Cancer in Transgender Men. Ovarian cancer is relatively rare but accounts for a disproportionate number of cancer deaths because it is too often diagnosed at an advanced stage. If it is found early, it can be a highly treatable disease. For trans men, ovarian cancer poses an extra challenge, due not only increased risk factors ...
Do trans men have biological children?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding, especially before age 30, have been shown to reduce the risk for ovarian cancer. Trans men are less likely to have biological children. As a group, transgender have a higher BMI (Body Mass Index) than is optimal for their height.
Does removing the uterus reduce the risk of ovarian cancer?
There is also evidence that surgery which would remove the ovaries, uterus and cervix may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Personal Health History – People who have had other kinds of cancer, like breast or colon, have a higher risk of getting ovarian cancer.
How old were transgender women when they started hormone treatment?
On average, transgender women were 31 years old when they started hormone treatment and transgender men were 23 years old.
How long do transgender women take hormones?
Transgender women took hormones for an average of 13 years, and transgender men took hormones for an average of 8 years. During the study, 15 cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in the transgender women at an average age of 50 and after an average of 18 years of hormone treatment. This rate was higher than the rate ...
Do transgender women have higher risk of breast cancer?
Transgender women — people who are born with male genitalia but who identify with the female gender — who take feminizing hormone therapy have a higher risk of breast cancer compared to the average man, according to a Dutch study. Still, this increase in risk is small and is not as high as the average woman’s breast cancer risk.
What is trans specific cancer screening?
Trans-Specific Cancer Screening Recommendations. The earlier cancer is detected and treated, the better the chances for survival. Screeninginvolves looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. By the time a person has symptoms, the cancer may have already begun to spread.
What are the social and economic disadvantages of trans people?
According to the Harvard University Center for Cancer Prevention, socially and economically disadvantaged groups are at increased risk of cancer of the lung, cervix, stomach, esophagus (tube from your mouth to your stomach), larynx (voice box), liver, and bladder.
What is the cancer that sticks out into the vagina?
The cervixis the cone-shaped neck of the uterus that sticks out into the vagina. Cervical cancer is the 9th most common cancer among BC residents born female. Cervical cancer is strongly associated with human papilloma virus (HPV), which is transmitted through sex. Recommendations for MTFs.
What is the risk of late diagnosis and treatment?
The Risk of Late Diagnosis and Treatment. The sooner cancer is found and treated, the better the chances of survival. Trans people who don’t have access to good medical care or who avoid exams used to screen for cancer (e.g., Pap smear for FTMs) are at risk of cancer not being found until it has already spread.
How common is ovarian cancer in BC?
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among BC residents born female. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, it is estimated that 2,400 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in Canada in 2005, and the lifetime probability of someone born female developing ovarian cancer is 1 in 67.
What is the second leading cause of death in Canada?
Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body (metastasize) and take over normal tissue. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Canada (the first is ...
Is vaginal cancer rare?
There is also a theoretical risk of vaginal cancer after vaginoplasty, but vaginal cancer is a rare type of cancer ( in both MTFs and non-trans women). There may be higher risks of vaginal cancer in MTFs who have HPV and have a compromised immune system (e.g., due to HIV). Recommendations for FTMs.
What is the standard of care for transgender children?
Shrier often conflates, causing confusion). The standard of care for children is that they get no medical intervention at all – no hormones, no surgery.
Does gender affirming surgery improve psychological functioning?
Findings from this review indicate that GAS [gender-affirming surgery] can lead to multiple, significant improvements in psychological functioning. A 2020 study of hormonal therapy in trans teens found it decreased suicidal ideation and improved quality of life.
Is gender identity a disorder?
The DSM-V now recognizes that having a gender identity that differs from the gender assigned at birth is not a disorder. Having dysphoria resulting from that fact combined with social factors is. Further, DNA is demonstrably not determinative when it comes to sexual orientation and gender identity.
