Breast Cancer in the trans community. By Crystal Ann Gray Published in Outfront Colorado 11/04/2009
Every year I love October because it brings cooler weather, changing leaves, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's a time when I am proud of the pink ribbons on my vehicle and the feeling I get that I am part of a cause.
This year I started thinking about how breast cancer affects trans men and trans women. I did some research and found some disturbing information.
The three conclusions I reached: The transgender community has big hurdles to overcome when dealing with the medical community; the transgender community is underserved by the medical profession; and finally, there is very little information out there about breast cancer in the transgender community.
According to the American Cancer Society, the risk for trans women is the same as for non-trans women on estrogen-replacement thearpy. Non-trans women have a 60 percent higher risk of breast cancer while on estrogen-replacement thearpy. The risk increases as the duration of the estrogen-replacement thearpy increases. The American Cancer Society only has four documented cases of breast cancer in trans women as of 2000.
Trans men who do not take testosterone or have chest-reduction surgery have a 1 in 8 chance of breast cancer, which is the same as non-transgender women. If the trans man is on testerosterone, the risk could be greater because excessive testerosterone can be converted into estrogen. The conversion has the potential to lead to estrogen-induced health problems. Also, a trans man who has his breasts removed is still not exempt from getting breast cancer. In fact, 1 out of 1,000 non-transgender men develop breast cancer every year.
Armed with that small amount of information, I contacted Dr. Jack Burkhalter from the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Dr. Burkhalter is collaborating with the National LGBT Cancer Network on cancer risks in the LGBT community. Dr. Burkhalter said there are really no studies of transgender individuals and their risk of breast cancer. "I have been able to find only case reports of cancers in transgender persons that suggest that treatments may put, for example, transgender women at great risk for breast cancer." he said.
The information I gathered from the American Cancer Society backs that up. An official there told me they are currently funding only one grant that deals with "sexual minorities and breast cancer."
The next time you wear your pink ribbon, remember that breast cancer is a disease that affects all people in all walks of life. It's time the medical community recognizes that as well.
This year I started thinking about how breast cancer affects trans men and trans women. I did some research and found some disturbing information.
The three conclusions I reached: The transgender community has big hurdles to overcome when dealing with the medical community; the transgender community is underserved by the medical profession; and finally, there is very little information out there about breast cancer in the transgender community.
According to the American Cancer Society, the risk for trans women is the same as for non-trans women on estrogen-replacement thearpy. Non-trans women have a 60 percent higher risk of breast cancer while on estrogen-replacement thearpy. The risk increases as the duration of the estrogen-replacement thearpy increases. The American Cancer Society only has four documented cases of breast cancer in trans women as of 2000.
Trans men who do not take testosterone or have chest-reduction surgery have a 1 in 8 chance of breast cancer, which is the same as non-transgender women. If the trans man is on testerosterone, the risk could be greater because excessive testerosterone can be converted into estrogen. The conversion has the potential to lead to estrogen-induced health problems. Also, a trans man who has his breasts removed is still not exempt from getting breast cancer. In fact, 1 out of 1,000 non-transgender men develop breast cancer every year.
Armed with that small amount of information, I contacted Dr. Jack Burkhalter from the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Dr. Burkhalter is collaborating with the National LGBT Cancer Network on cancer risks in the LGBT community. Dr. Burkhalter said there are really no studies of transgender individuals and their risk of breast cancer. "I have been able to find only case reports of cancers in transgender persons that suggest that treatments may put, for example, transgender women at great risk for breast cancer." he said.
The information I gathered from the American Cancer Society backs that up. An official there told me they are currently funding only one grant that deals with "sexual minorities and breast cancer."
The next time you wear your pink ribbon, remember that breast cancer is a disease that affects all people in all walks of life. It's time the medical community recognizes that as well.
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