LGBTQ+ people have a higher risk of some cancers than heterosexuals, research suggests.
A first-of-its-kind report from the American Cancer Society found that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and be obese, all of which increase their chance of getting cancer.
They are also at higher risk of contracting STIs such as HIV and HPV, which can lead to cancer, according to the report.
The analysis found that they are also more likely to avoid going to the doctor for fear of discrimination, which could lead to delays in cancer diagnosis.
Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer of the American Cancer Society, said in an interview with ABC News: “We are very aware, particularly in this population, of hesitancy in receiving medical care. Because of prejudices, a the lack of familiarity (of the doctors)… we were concerned that the results could be worse.’
A first-of-its-kind report from the American Cancer Society found that LGBTQ+ people are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, and be obese, all of which increase their chance of getting cancer.
LGBTQ+ groups are also more likely to avoid going to the doctor for fear of discrimination, which could lead to delays in cancer diagnosis.
The analysis summarizes data collected from three major national surveys: the National Health Interview Survey, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and the National Youth Tobacco Survey.
It found that lesbian, gay and bisexual adults are more likely to smoke cigarettes than heterosexual adults (16 percent compared to 12 percent in 2021 and 2022).
The greatest disparity occurred in bisexual women, who are twice as likely to smoke cigarettes as heterosexual women (23 percent vs. 10 percent) and drink heavily (14 percent vs. six percent).
Cigarette smoke contains more than 5,000 chemicals, of which at least 70 can cause cancer.
When smoking, chemicals enter the lungs and damage the body’s DNA, including parts of our DNA that protect us against cancer.
Smoking increases the risk not only of lung cancer, but also of cancer of the mouth and throat, larynx, esophagus, stomach, kidney, pancreas, liver, bladder, cervix, colon and rectum, and also a type of leukemia.
“Minority stress”: Excess stress experienced by members of stigmatized groups likely contributes to behaviors such as smoking that increase cancer risk, researchers said.
Psychological stress can also cause elevated cortisol levels and chronic inflammation, which likely increases cancer risk, the researchers said.
While the researchers did not directly look at cancer rates in LGBTQ+ people, they deduced that rates are likely higher due to the higher prevalence of risk factors such as smoking, drinking, and being overweight.
An independent study found that bisexual women had the shortest life expectancy, dying 37 percent earlier than heterosexual women, followed by lesbian women, who died 20 percent earlier. Queer women (including both bisexual and lesbian women) died, on average, 26 percent earlier than heterosexual women.
An estimated 5.6 percent of all Americans identified as LGBTQ in 2020
Lesbian and bisexual women are more likely to have excess body weight: 68 percent carry extra weight compared to 61 percent of heterosexual women.
Bisexual women also tend to drink more. About 14 percent consume more than seven drinks a week, while only six percent of heterosexual women drink that many.
Obesity is also more common among bisexual women: 43 percent compared to 38 percent among lesbian women and 33 percent among heterosexual women.
Having too much body fat can cause the amount of growth hormones in the body to increase, which tells cells to divide more frequently and increases the chance of cancer cells developing.
Obesity also causes inflammation in the body, which also causes cells to divide faster.
The prevalence of cancer-causing infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV), is also significantly higher in some LGBTQ+ groups.
About 70 percent of HIV infections are due to sexual contact between men, according to the CDC.
People infected with HIV have an increased risk of developing at least 10 types of cancer, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, liver cancer, and cervical cancer.
This is because HIV weakens the immune system and allows other viruses that can cause cancer to grow.
Screening rates for some cancers are lower in LGBTQ+ groups, including cervical cancer and colorectal cancer screening in transgender men.
The researchers said that while the findings suggest disparities in cancer incidence among LGBTQ+ people, actual data on this and the population mortality rate is not available because sexual orientation and gender identity are not adequately collected in healthcare settings.
One study that was included in the analysis found a 10 percent higher risk of breast cancer among bisexual women and a six percent higher risk in lesbians, compared with heterosexual women.
The study was published in the journal Cancer.
