Breast cancer is clearly an issue of relevance for all women---an alarming one in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in her lifetime!---but we’re going to talk a little bit about why it is a particularly important issue for lesbian and queer women.  You might be wondering why we really need to talk specifically about breast cancer as a lesbian health issue.  Do lesbians actually have higher rates of breast cancer than other women?  Does sexual orientation really matter when it comes to something like breast cancer?  The answer is: it just might!!  In fact there are some studies that demonstrate lesbian women having both higher rates and/or later diagnosis of their breast cancer (which leads to potentially more serious health risks and greater difficulty in treatment).
But why is this?  Is being a lesbian inherently a cause or a risk for breast cancer?  Of course not.  However, many lesbians share some life realities that differ from heterosexual women…and its these differences that may place us at higher risk.  These differences include:

·    Statistically lesbian women have few full-term pregnancies, or none at all---or if they do become pregnant they often do so later in life (after the age of 30) than many straight women do so.
·    Connected to that fact, lesbian women are also less likely to have ever breast fed.
·    Studies have demonstrated that, as a community, lesbian women often have higher body weight and/or body mass index (BMI) in comparison to heterosexual women.
·    Lesbian and queer women, in some studies, have been shown to smoke at higher rates than heterosexual women.
·    Several studies have pointed to the fact that lesbians are more likely to have unhealthy patterns of alcohol consumption than their heterosexual counterparts.
·    Lesbians generally have lower incomes and are less likely to have health insurance coverage from their partner or themselves, which makes routine screenings and preventive health services less accessible and more difficult to pay for.

         Clearly some of the above facts and issues are health concerns in themselves---but they are ALL circumstances that have been implicated as increasing the risk for developing breast cancer.  Knowing that lesbian women often fall into the above categories certainly demonstrates a concentration of risk factors that we should be aware of.  These issues are further complicated, however, when you add another statistic into the mix:  many lesbian women fear homophobia in medical environments and, as such, may delay or avoid medical care altogether…including breast health screenings.   It stands to reason then, that an increase in risk factors and lower rates of screening can potentially have a very unhealthy impact on lesbian and queer women’s lives.

    So what can you do to make sure your breast health is adequately cared for?  First and foremost, develop a relationship with a healthcare provider with whom you can be honest and open about who you are…and know that they are supportive.  Starting at age 20, have this provider do annual clinical breast exams---and by age 40 start talking to your provider about regular mammograms.  Second, eliminate any risks that might be under your control (such as smoking, exercise, alcohol use, etc.).  Third, get to know your body: do breast self exams at least once a month following your period and speak to your physician immediately if you detect any changes.
    Taking an active role in your own health AND healthcare is one critical way to take the best possible care of yourself that you can.