Why should you get screened?

Like everybody else, Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning, and intersex (2SLGBTQI+) people and others who identify as part of 2SLGBTQI+ communities should be screened for cancer. 2SLGBTQI+ people are less likely to get screened for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer than cisgender and heterosexual people. This means that 2SLGBTQI+ people may have a higher risk of dying from these cancers.

It may be difficult for members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities to find health information that speaks to them. A major barrier to getting screened is that some healthcare settings aren’t inclusive or welcoming. 2SLGBTQI+ people are less likely to have a primary healthcare provider and more likely to delay seeking medical care or screening because of actual or perceived discrimination.

They may face barriers to screening related to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender dysphoria. For example, trans men may find procedures like Pap tests and mammograms particularly challenging. Lesbian women may have been told or may believe that they do not need cervical cancer screening.

There is a lot of evidence supporting the effectiveness of screening for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers at a population level. This means that for the general population as a whole, these 3 screening tests have more benefits than limitations. While there can be many barriers to taking care of your health, it’s important to get screened.

People use many words and acronyms like 2SLGBTQI+ to describe sexual orientation and gender identity, including Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or trans, queer or questioning, intersex and others. The “+” in 2SLGBTQI+ indicates other identities and experiences that fall outside the dominant heterosexual and cisgender (non-trans) identities (e.g. asexual, demisexual, pansexual). These terms, as well as thoughts and attitudes about sexual orientation and gender identity, change continuously, within society as a whole and within 2SLGBTQI+ communities. These definitions are not standardized and may be used differently by different people in different regions, countries and cultures.