Why it’s important for everyone with breasts to practice breast awareness
metro.co.ukcancer, the most common cancer in the UK, it’s vital that trans people feel informed and welcome at screenings – just like anyone else.
Juliana Kling, M.D. and a physician in the Breast Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, tells us: ‘Transgender people face many disparities, which are largely rooted in experiences of stigma and discrimination. ‘Fear or experience of non-inclusive or discriminatory care can be a barrier to breast cancer screening for transgender people. ‘It is also likely that system issues, such as lack of research or limited guidelines for breast cancer screening in this population, can contribute to difficulty getting appropriate breast cancer screening for transgender people.’As the Cancer Research UK website clearly states, breast cancer screenings are for anyone who has breasts – due to either naturally-occurring oestrogen or oestrogen hormone therapy.Dr Harriet Bradley, medical director at the digital healthcare provider Livi, explains: ‘Breast cancer can affect anyone and routine breast cancer screening appointments can help to detect the disease before other signs or symptoms appear. ‘Some trans and non-binary people who have been on long-term hormone therapy can be at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. ‘Diagnosing breast cancer at the earliest onset increases the chance of treatment being successful and increases the chance of survival – that is why it’s important to attend your screening appointment if you are invited, though attending a screening is always your choice.’However, not everyone who should have a screening may be invited for theirs. ‘Anyone aged between 50-71 who is registered as female at their GP surgery will automatically be invited for breast screening,’ says.
