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Title: Transgender People and Breast Cancer
Post by: Shana A on October 30, 2010, 09:01:35 AM
Post by: Shana A on October 30, 2010, 09:01:35 AM
Transgender People and Breast Cancer
http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/transgender-people-and-breast-cancer/ (http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/transgender-people-and-breast-cancer/)
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to educating the public about breast cancer and raising money for research on the disease's cause, prevention, and cure.
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How does breast cancer affect transgender individuals?
There is not nearly enough research on how transgender people are affected by breast cancer or any other disease but those who work on transgender health note the following:
* For a transgender woman, the risk of breast cancer increases following breast development and five or more years of hormone therapy.
* For a transgender man, excessive testosterone can be converted into estrogen by the body, which leads to increased cancer risk. Additionally, transgender men may feel uncomfortable with either self-exams or medical exams, and may not realize that top surgery does not remove all breast tissue. Self-examination is a useful prevention tool that can be life-saving, regardless of a person's gender.
http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/transgender-people-and-breast-cancer/ (http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/transgender-people-and-breast-cancer/)
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to educating the public about breast cancer and raising money for research on the disease's cause, prevention, and cure.
snip
How does breast cancer affect transgender individuals?
There is not nearly enough research on how transgender people are affected by breast cancer or any other disease but those who work on transgender health note the following:
* For a transgender woman, the risk of breast cancer increases following breast development and five or more years of hormone therapy.
* For a transgender man, excessive testosterone can be converted into estrogen by the body, which leads to increased cancer risk. Additionally, transgender men may feel uncomfortable with either self-exams or medical exams, and may not realize that top surgery does not remove all breast tissue. Self-examination is a useful prevention tool that can be life-saving, regardless of a person's gender.
Title: Re: Transgender People and Breast Cancer
Post by: Mrs Erocse on October 31, 2010, 10:01:19 AM
Post by: Mrs Erocse on October 31, 2010, 10:01:19 AM
Thank you for posting this. It is good to know. :)
Title: Re: Transgender People and Breast Cancer
Post by: Aidan_ on October 31, 2010, 09:57:00 PM
Post by: Aidan_ on October 31, 2010, 09:57:00 PM
Indeed. Just because we started male doesn't mean we're immune to breast cancer. I hope everyone can learn to eat healthier and live better so this doesn't happen to them.
Title: Re: Transgender People and Breast Cancer
Post by: Muffin on October 31, 2010, 10:59:50 PM
Post by: Muffin on October 31, 2010, 10:59:50 PM
I think it would be interesting to see results of this study a little closer like the different hormone regimes that are possible and the different effects of all those.. if there are any.
Title: Re: Transgender People and Breast Cancer
Post by: A on November 04, 2010, 12:08:12 AM
Post by: A on November 04, 2010, 12:08:12 AM
I've read that transgender women should not worry too much about breast cancer, as while their breast cancer risk does go up, the lowering of the prostate cancer compensates for it. Was it a lie ?
Title: Re: Transgender People and Breast Cancer
Post by: kyril on November 04, 2010, 12:24:42 AM
Post by: kyril on November 04, 2010, 12:24:42 AM
Not exactly a lie so much as misleading.
Yes, the lowering of prostate cancer risk does, in a sense, compensate for the increase in breast cancer risk, in a sense. That is, your overall cancer risk is more or less unaffected because you will have a higher risk of breast cancer than before but a lower risk of prostate cancer.
However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't worry about breast cancer. Like any woman, you'll need to be screened periodically, especially as you get older.
Yes, the lowering of prostate cancer risk does, in a sense, compensate for the increase in breast cancer risk, in a sense. That is, your overall cancer risk is more or less unaffected because you will have a higher risk of breast cancer than before but a lower risk of prostate cancer.
However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't worry about breast cancer. Like any woman, you'll need to be screened periodically, especially as you get older.
Title: Re: Transgender People and Breast Cancer
Post by: A on November 04, 2010, 08:05:11 AM
Post by: A on November 04, 2010, 08:05:11 AM
Okay, but we don't have to get checked more often than cis-women, right ?
Title: Re: Transgender People and Breast Cancer
Post by: Erica L. on November 04, 2010, 02:27:44 PM
Post by: Erica L. on November 04, 2010, 02:27:44 PM
Here's a great link to the American Cancer Society's comments on the subject.
http://www.glbthealth.org/documents/FactSheetRevised-TransgenderedIndividuals.pdf (http://www.glbthealth.org/documents/FactSheetRevised-TransgenderedIndividuals.pdf)
http://www.glbthealth.org/documents/FactSheetRevised-TransgenderedIndividuals.pdf (http://www.glbthealth.org/documents/FactSheetRevised-TransgenderedIndividuals.pdf)
Title: Re: Transgender People and Breast Cancer
Post by: rite_of_inversion on November 10, 2010, 03:43:32 AM
Post by: rite_of_inversion on November 10, 2010, 03:43:32 AM
Quote from: Erica L. on November 04, 2010, 02:27:44 PM
Here's a great link to the American Cancer Society's comments on the subject.
http://www.glbthealth.org/documents/FactSheetRevised-TransgenderedIndividuals.pdf (http://www.glbthealth.org/documents/FactSheetRevised-TransgenderedIndividuals.pdf)
Oh great!!! it says that my wife should probably have a mammogram AND a prostate exam!
Um...Houston, we have a problem...getting her to the doctor about anything at all if she's not flamingly ill is hard as heck...much less to check on certain...bits that she'd rather not have come equipped with...and the check involves a doctor putting a finger WHERE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Oh. Mah. GAWD.
I still haven't gotten her to do something about her high blood pressure...