Cancer Screening for Transgender and LGBT

Cancer Screening
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Introduction
Cancer screening is a crucial component of the early detection and treatment of cancer. It involves various methods to identify cancer early on, including physical exams, imaging tests, and laboratory examinations. Despite the importance of cancer screening, certain populations, such as transgender individuals, face unique challenges in accessing and receiving appropriate cancer screening services. While cancer screening is an essential tool in preventing and treating cancer, it is not without its limitations and risks. It is vital for individuals to discuss their options and risks with their healthcare providers to make informed decisions about screening.
Several databases were searched to explore the literature related to cancer screening in these populations, including Nursing for Women's Health, Oncology Nursing, Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, Oncology Nursing Forum, Journal of Advanced Nursing, and American Journal of Public Health. The keywords utilized in the search included Transgender Cancer Screening, Cervical Cancer for SWM, and Cancer Screening for LGBT. This paper aims to review the available evidence on cancer screening for these populations and identify potential gaps in current practices.
Transgender Cancer Screening
Transgender individuals often face barriers when accessing healthcare services, including cancer screening. Cancer screening is crucial in detecting cancer at an early stage, which can lead to better outcomes and survival rates. However, due to various factors, transgender individuals may not have equal access to cancer screening as cisgender individuals. This literature review will examine three studies focusing on cancer screening considerations, uptake, and barriers among the LGBTQ+ population, specifically transgender individuals.
According to Ceres et al. (2018), transgender individuals face unique challenges regarding cancer screening, including fear of discrimination, lack of knowledge about screening guidelines, and difficulty finding healthcare providers knowledgeable about transgender healthcare. These challenges can lead to low rates of cancer screening uptake among transgender individuals. The study also found that healthcare providers need to be educated on transgender healthcare and be able to provide culturally competent care to transgender individuals. Ceres et al. (2018) suggest that providing education to healthcare providers, creating culturally competent healthcare environments, and improving access to healthcare services can increase cancer screening uptake among transgender individuals.
Haviland et al. (2020) concentrated on hindrances and facilitators to disease screening among LGBTQ people with malignant growth. They discovered that transgender people have difficulty accessing cancer screenings due to a lack of insurance, fear of discrimination, and ignorance of screening guidelines. Additionally, they realized that transgender cancer patients might face discrimination from healthcare providers and a missing gender-affirming care access. Haviland et al. (2020) suggest educating about cancer screening guidelines, improving access to healthcare services, and creating a safe and welcoming healthcare environment can increase cancer screening uptake among transgender individuals. They also suggest that healthcare providers need to be educated on transgender healthcare and be able to provide gender-affirming care to transgender individuals.
On the other hand, Peters et al. (2022) developed a protocol for a scoping review regarding culturally safe, high-quality screening for breast cancer within the transgender community. Peters et al. (2022) sought to identify knowledge gaps and develop recommendations for transgender people to undergo breast cancer screening. The study found that current breast cancer screening guidelines do not consider the particular requirements of transgender people and that there is a shortage of research on breast cancer screening for transgender people. Peters et al. (2022) suggest that providing education to healthcare providers, creating gender-affirming healthcare environments, and improving access to healthcare services can increase breast cancer screening uptake among transgender individuals. The researchers also suggest that future research should focus on developing breast cancer screening guidelines for transgender individuals.
These three studies highlight the unique challenges that transgender individuals face regarding cancer screening. Fear of discrimination, lack of knowledge about screening guidelines, and difficulty finding healthcare providers knowledgeable about transgender healthcare can lead to low rates of cancer screening uptake among transgender individuals. Healthcare providers need to be educated on transgender healthcare and be able to provide culturally competent and gender-affirming care to transgender individuals. Improving access to healthcare services and creating safe and welcoming healthcare environments can also increase cancer screening uptake among transgender individuals. Further research is needed to develop cancer screening guidelines specifically for transgender individuals.
Cervical Cancer for SWM
Globally, cervical cancer is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Sexual minority women (SMW) face numerous healthcare disparities, which can lower their cervical cancer screening rates. Compared to heterosexuals, SMWs are less likely to undergo cervical cancer screenings, according to studies. This literature review aims to examine the factors that influence SMW screening for cervical cancer. Greene et al. (2018) conducted an integrative review to determine the healthcare-related cervical cancer screening correlates among SMWs. They discovered that stigma, a lack of trust in providers, and inadequate communication are significant obstacles to screening for cervical cancer. SMWs are less likely to disclose their sexual orientation because they face stigma and discrimination from healthcare providers. This leads to inadequate communication, mistrust, and understanding of their healthcare needs. Greene et al. (2018) suggest that healthcare providers should receive training on providing culturally competent care to SMWs and address their unique healthcare needs to improve cervical cancer screening rates.
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