LGBTQIA+ people and cancer treatment
On this page
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LGBTQIA+ healthcare rights
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Does my healthcare team need to know I am LGBTQIA+?
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Will I be treated differently because I am LGBTQIA+?
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Cancer screening for LGBTQIA+ people
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How can I reduce my cancer risk?
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Cancer, sex and fertility
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LGBTQIA+ cancer support groups
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Cancer and your community
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Get this information in another language or format
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How we can help
LGBTQIA+ healthcare rights
If you are LGBTQIA+ and have cancer, you might have questions about whether this will affect your cancer treatment.
Being LGBTQIA+ does not affect your right to safe, high-quality care. Your healthcare team should offer you care, support and information that meets your needs. They should:
- consider what is important to you
- treat you with dignity and respect
- protect your privacy
- involve you in planning and making decisions about your healthcare
- give you clear information and support
- give you care that is safe and effective.
LGBTQIA+ is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual people. The plus sign (+) is any romantic or sexual attraction other than heterosexual, and any gender identity other than cis.
If you need more information about any of these terms, Stonewall has a glossary you may find useful.
If you are transgender or non-binary
If you are transgender (trans), non-binary, or both, you may also find our pages for trans and non-binary people helpful. They include information about:
Related pages
Booklets and resources
Does my healthcare team need to know I am LGBTQIA+?
You do not have to tell your healthcare team you are LGBTQIA+. But sharing this information might help them support you better and more safely. It can sometimes make your care easier or less stressful.
Anything you share is confidential and should only be used to improve your care.
There may be times when members of your healthcare team ask you about:
- sexual and romantic orientation
- gender identity
- sex registered at birth.
Your team may ask because they want to give the right care and support to you and the people close to you. They may also ask to collect information for equality monitoring. This means the information is used to ensure that NHS services are welcoming, inclusive and accessible for everyone.
Your healthcare team may not ask about your gender identity. But it is important you feel able to tell them if you want to. You may choose to do this when you first meet someone from your team. Or you may decide to wait until you find someone you feel comfortable with.
Sometimes, to understand the treatment, possible side effects and support you may need, your team will ask you about:
- sexual activity
- your sex or reproductive body parts
- gender-affirming treatments.
If questions feel uncomfortable
If you are unsure why you are being asked any question, you can ask:
- why your healthcare team needs the information
- who will see the information if you share it.
Tell your team if the questions they ask do not fit with who you are or how you identify.
NHS Pride Rainbow Badge
If you are unsure who to talk to, look for someone wearing a rainbow badge or lanyard.
If a healthcare professional is wearing an NHS Pride Rainbow Badge, you could start by asking them about it. The badge means they should be open to talking about LGBTQIA+ needs and able to offer support.
Some healthcare professionals wear rainbow lanyards or other rainbow items. For some, this is because they are LGBTQIA+ themselves. For others, it is a way of showing they support the LGBTQIA+ community.
What else can I tell my healthcare team?
You can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. Here are some things that might help your team support you:
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Your name, title and pronouns
You can ask your team to make a note and use these even if they are different from what is written in your medical records. If you want to update your medical records, ask your GP surgery or medical centre to do this. TransActual have a guide that may help.
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The people who are important to you
Your team needs to understand who supports you and your relationship to them. This can include whoever you choose to describe as your family.
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The people you want your team to talk to
Tell your team who you give consent for them to talk to about your care.
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The people who know you are LGBTQIA+
Your team should make sure all information about you is confidential. They should only share information with other healthcare professionals when it is needed for your care. If you have not told everyone in your life, explain this to your team.
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What is important to you
Tell your team if they are offering you the wrong information or support. For example, some cancer treatments can affect your ability to get or make someone pregnant (your fertility). If you want information about this but have not been offered it, ask your team. If they talk to you about it but you do not want or need this information, tell them.
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What you are worried about
You may be worrying about things your team are not aware of. Tell them if something is making you feel anxious so they can help.
Will I be treated differently because I am LGBTQIA+?
Your healthcare team are there to support you and treat you in a way that makes you feel comfortable.
However, you may worry about being treated unfairly or differently. This may be because you have had difficult or negative experiences before. Common concerns include:
- not getting the right information or support for your body or identity
- healthcare professionals making assumptions about LGBTQIA+ people or bodies
- a partner being mistaken for another family member or a friend, or being ignored
- hearing or receiving insensitive or anti-LGBTQIA+ comments
- feeling judged because you are LGBTQIA+.
If you are worried, or if something does not feel right, there are things you can do.
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Talk to your healthcare team
If it feels safe, tell someone on your team. Often issues can be sorted with an honest conversation. And feedback can help improve care for everyone.
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Get support
Start by talking to someone you trust. This may be someone close to you or a healthcare professional you know well.
There are also organisations that offer safe spaces to talk. OUTpatients offers support for LGBTIQ+ people with cancer, through peer services, advocacy and signposting.
These organisations also offer support by phone or online:
- Switchboard, the LGBT+ Helpline
- the LGBT Foundation.
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Give feedback or make a complaint
You can give feedback and complaints anonymously if you do not want to be identified. The process is different depending on where you live.
You can find out more about how this works and the support available in your area:
You can also learn more in our general information about having difficult conversations or making a complaint.
In the video below Sarah talks about her cancer experience. As a gay woman, she felt invisible due to the language used when she was diagnosed.
Discrimination
In the UK, the law protects you. Your healthcare team must not treat you unfairly because of your sexual orientation, sex, transgender identity or history. Treating people differently for these reasons is called discrimination and is against the law.
Facing discrimination can be stressful and upsetting. It may be even more difficult when you are already dealing with cancer. For more information about discrimination and your rights:
- in England, Scotland or Wales, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service
- in Northern Ireland, contact the Equality Commission.
You can find out more about the UK Supreme Court judgement about ‘sex’, and what this may mean for transgender and non-binary people, in our information for transgender and non-binary people.
Cancer screening for LGBTQIA+ people
Cancer screening uses tests to help find cancer early, or to find people who may need treatment to stop cancer developing.
For LGBTQIA+ people, understanding how screening works and who can have it might feel complicated. Your GP or healthcare team can help if you are unsure or have questions about cancer screening.
It is your choice whether you want to have screening or not. To help you make an informed decision, it is important to understand:
- which types of screening you can have
- what the screening tests involve
- the benefits and risks of having screening.
The NHS offers routine screening for breast, cervical and bowel cancer. In some areas, there is also screening for lung cancer. Invitations are usually based on your age and the gender that is registered with your GP.
Find out more in our information about:
Related pages
How can I reduce my cancer risk?
Everyone’s risk of cancer is affected by many different factors. If you are LGBTQIA+, understanding these factors can help you feel more confident about your health. Some things that affect cancer risk include:
- Lifestyle – for example, your risk is higher if you smoke or drink alcohol, and may be higher depending on your diet, sexual practices or physical activity levels.
- Genetic conditions or a family history of cancer – some people have a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer, such as breast or prostate cancer, because of their genes or family history.
- Gender-affirming treatments – some treatments may change your risk of developing some types of cancer.
- Having a variation in sex characteristic (VSC) – this may also slightly increase or lower your risk of developing some types of cancer.
It can be useful to understand your risk of cancer. But it is also important to remember that you cannot control some factors. Having a risk factor does not mean you will definitely get cancer.
If you are worried about cancer risk, talking to your GP or healthcare team can help. They can offer advice and, if needed, arrange tests or ongoing care to help manage your risk. They can support with changes such as:
Looking after your health is a positive thing to do. The World Cancer Research Fund has more information about making lifestyle changes to reduce your cancer risk.
Misinformation about cancer risk for the LGBTQIA+ community
Sometimes misinformation or myths can make it harder to understand what is true. Here are some questions you may want answered about cancer risk in LGBTQIA+ people.
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Does being a gay or bisexual man mean you are more likely to get prostate cancer?
No. Being gay or bisexual does not increase the risk of prostate cancer more than for other men. But gay and bi men, and men who have sex with men, may have different challenges during diagnosis and treatment – for example the impacts on their sexual wellbeing or relationships.
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Does receiving anal sex cause anal cancer?
Anal sex does not directly cause anal cancer, but it is linked to a higher risk. This is because it can increase your risk of a common viral infection called HPV. In some people, the infection causes cell damage that may eventually lead to anal cancer. It is important to remember that while HPV is common, anal cancer is still rare.
The best protection from HPV infection is to get vaccinated. This reduces the risk of anal cancer and other types including cervical, penile and head and neck cancers. The NHS offers the HPV vaccine to children aged 12 or 13. This is usually given at school but can also be given at a GP surgery.
If you have not been vaccinated as a child, you may still be eligible for the vaccination up to the age of 45 if you have a higher risk of HPV-related cancers. Talk to your GP, sexual health or HIV clinic if you are in one of these groups:
- men who have sex with men – this includes if you are a cisgender, or a transgender man
- transgender people who have sex with men
- people with HIV
- sex workers
There is currently no screening programme for anal cancer in the UK. If you have concerns or symptoms, talk to your GP or sexual health clinic.
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Do lesbians still need cervical cancer screening?
Yes. Regular screening is important for everyone with a cervix who has ever:
You can find out more about how this works and the support available in your area:- Been sexually active, whatever their sexual orientation
- Put anything inside their vagina, including fingers and tampons.
This includes lesbian and bisexual people, whether they are cisgender, transgender or non-binary.
HPV infection is the main cause of cervical cancer. This common viral infection passes easily from person to person during any type of sexual contact, including skin-to-skin genital contact, or sharing sex toys. This means you can still have a risk of developing cervical cancer even if you have never had penis-in-vagina sex.
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Is it only women who can get breast cancer?
No, it is not just women or people assigned female at birth that can get breast cancer, although it most commonly affects this group. Anyone with breast tissue can develop breast cancer. It can also affect people who have developed breasts from feminising hormone therapy.
It is less common but still possible to develop breast cancer if:
- you have had gender-affirming top surgery to remove breast tissue – this surgery does not usually remove all the breast tissue from the chest
- you are a cisgender man or person assigned male at birth – breast cancer can develop in the small amount of breast tissue behind the nipples.
In these situations, you will not be offered routine breast screening. But it is still important to tell your GP if you notice any changes to your chest.
Find out more about breast cancer screening in our cancer screening information and our page about cancer screening and risk for transgender and non-binary people.
Cancer, sex and fertility
Cancer and some cancer treatments can affect many areas of sexual wellbeing. Sometimes, they can also affect your ability to get pregnant or make someone pregnant (fertility).
Before you start a cancer treatment, your cancer doctor or specialist nurse can explain if it is likely to cause sexual side effects or fertility problems. They can also give advice and information about this during or after treatment.
As an LGBTQIA+ person, you may have some specific questions about how side effects might affect your sex life or your fertility options. Some side effects may be more of an issue depending on the type of sex you have.
You may have already made decisions about fertility before being diagnosed with cancer. You may have decided you do not want to have children. Or you may have planned it for the future. You might have stored sperm, eggs, embryos or ovarian tissue.
Talk to your cancer team if you have questions about fertility before or after cancer treatment. It might be helpful to write down your questions to take to appointments. Your team can give you information or refer you to a fertility clinic for more support.
Finding more information
OUTpatients have information for LGBTIQ+ people about sex with and after cancer. We also have information about cancer, sex and side effects for anyone before, during or after cancer treatment. This information is for you whatever your sexual orientation or gender identity. Is it for everyone, if you are single, in a relationship or having sex.
We also have more information about cancer and fertility. If you have questions about your fertility and cannot find the information you need, call our cancer support specialists on 0808 808 00 00.
Related pages
LGBTQIA+ cancer support groups
Support groups are a way of meeting people in similar situations and sharing experiences. Many people find this helps them cope with cancer and its treatment.
Each group is unique. There are groups for people affected by a certain type or stage of cancer, or having a particular treatment. There are also a small number of groups for LGBTQIA+ people affected by cancer.
You might need to try different groups before finding the right one for you. Or you may use a mixture of groups. Sometimes it might take a few meetings to feel comfortable and able to take part.
Ask your healthcare team about local support groups or call us on 0808 808 00 00. You can also search Cancer Care Map for groups in your area.
LGBTQIA+ cancer support groups include the following:
- OUTpatients run online peer support groups for LGBTIQ+ people living with and beyond cancer.
- LGBT Walnut is a support group based in London for any LGBT person affected by prostate cancer.
- Maggie’s offer LGBTQ+ cancer support groups at some centres.
- Out with Prostate Cancer is a support group based in Manchester, aimed at gay and bisexual men, and trans women affected by prostate cancer.
- The Rainbow Project has a Chancer Champions programme, supported by Macmillan to help LGBTQIA+ people in Northern Ireland with cancer.
Online forums
Online and social media forums can be a good way to find and connect with people. Online support may also feel safer or more comfortable for people who are not out or want to be anonymous.
Macmillan’s Online Community offers a safe space to ask questions, share experiences and emotions. You can visit the LGBTIQ+ group or explore all the cancer support forums.
Related pages
Booklets and resources
Cancer and your community
Family and community can be an important source of support during cancer. But for some LGBTQIA+ people, this may be complicated. The way your family or community feels about LGBTQIA+ people, or about cancer, can affect how easy it is to ask for help.
People around you may not realise how they are affecting you. For example, some families or communities do not talk about cancer. There is an unspoken idea that cancer is private or should not be talked about. This can make it difficult to talk about what is happening to you or ask for help when you need it.
If you are struggling to get support, try to talk to someone you trust. This could be a friend, partner, someone you work with or an LGBTQIA+ support group. You could speak to a counsellor if this would help. Ask your GP, cancer doctor or nurse if they can arrange this. Or call our free support line on 0808 808 00 00 for information and support.
LGBTQIA+ support
It can be helpful and important to find wider support from the LGBTQIA+ community when you are affected by cancer. The following organisations offer general support to LGBTQIA+ people, rather than specific cancer support or information:
- the LGBT Foundation
- Mindline Trans+
- Switchboard, the LGBT+ Helpline
- Tranzwiki and LGBT Consortium have lists of groups that offer support for transgender (trans) and non-binary people. This includes national organisations and local support groups. Search by your area to find out what is available
- Interconnected UK provides peer support and a safe space for people with VSC/intersex traits and their loved ones
- In Scotland, LGBT Health and Wellbeing
- In Northern Ireland, the Rainbow Project.
Get this information in another language or format
We are committed to making our website as accessible as possible, to make sure that everyone can use it.
We have information about cancer for LGBTQIA+ people in over 16 languages. You can also listen to our audiobook LGBTQIA+ people and cancer for free.
If we do not have what you are looking for, you can ask for information to be translated for free or provided in a format to suit you. Email us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk or call us on 0808 808 0000.
About our information
This information was developed in partnership with OUTpatients. OUTpatients is a cancer support and advocacy charity for the LGBTIQ+ community. It provides a safe space for anybody who identifies as part of the queer community and has had an experience with any type of cancer. This is for any stage of cancer, from testing, diagnosis, treatment and remission through to long-term care.
Macmillan is working to improve how our cancer information works for LGBTQIA+ people. There are areas of our information that we are still working on to make more inclusive.
When we write or update our information, we think about the needs of all different audiences. This includes people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We are careful about the language and wording we use. We include information about specific LGBTQIA+ issues when needed. We offer other useful sources of information and support when this is helpful.
We welcome feedback on any of our information. If you have feedback, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our information for people who are LGBTQIA+. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
Adley M, O'Donnell A, Scott S. How LGBTQ + adults' experiences of multiple disadvantage impact upon their health and social care service pathways in the UK & Ireland: a scoping review. BMC Health Services Research [Internet]. 2025; 25 (1): 244. Available from: doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12232-8 (accessed October 2025).
Berner AM, Atkinson SE. The implications of hormone treatment for cancer risk, screening and treatment in transgender individuals. Best Practice and Research Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism [Internet]. 2024; 38 (5):101909. Available from doi.org/10.1016/j.beem.2024.101909 (accessed October 2025).
Braybrook D, Rosa WE, Norman C, Harding R, Bristowe K. The inclusion of LGBTQ + people within UK health policy: a critical discourse analysis. International Journal for Equity in Health [Internet]. 2025; 24 (1):88. Available from doi.org/10.1186/s12939-025-02446-x (accessed October 2025).
D'Elia M, Nabhani-Gebara S, O'Callaghan S. Safe and supportive prescribing in transgender and non-binary patients with cancer. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology [Internet]. 2024; 90(10): 2401-2408. Available from doi.org/10.1111/bcp.16235 (accessed October 2025).
Giblin, J., Coad, B., Lamb, C. et al. UK recommendations for the management of transgender and gender-diverse patients with inherited cancer risks. BJC Reports [Internet]. 2023; 1:1. Available from doi.org/10.1038/s44276-023-00002-0 (accessed October 2025).
Kneale D, Henley J, Thomas J, French R. Inequalities in older LGBT people's health and care needs in the United Kingdom: a systematic scoping review. Ageing and Society [Internet]. 2021; 41(3):493-515. Available from doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X19001326 (accessed October 2025).
Monro, S., Wall, S. S., & Wood, K. (2023). Intersex equality, diversity and inclusion and social policy: Silences, absences, and erasures in Ireland and the UK. Critical Social Policy [Internet]. 2024; 44(1): 3-22. doi.org/10.1177/02610183231175055 (accessed October 2025).
Zeeman L, Aranda K. A systematic review of the health and healthcare inequalities for people with intersex variance. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health [Internet]. 2020;17 (18):6533. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186533 (accessed October 2025).
Dr Owen Carter
Reviewer
Macmillan National Clinical Advisor
Centre of Clinical Expertise
Date reviewed
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This means it is easy to use, up-to-date and based on the latest evidence. Learn more about how we produce our information.
The language we use
We want everyone affected by cancer to feel our information is written for them.
We want our information to be as clear as possible. To do this, we try to:
- use plain English
- explain medical words
- use short sentences
- use illustrations to explain text
- structure the information clearly
- make sure important points are clear.
We use gender-inclusive language and talk to our readers as ‘you’ so that everyone feels included. Where clinically necessary we use the terms ‘men’ and ‘women’ or ‘male’ and ‘female’. For example, we do so when talking about parts of the body or mentioning statistics or research about who is affected.
You can read more about how we produce our information here.