Cancer Risk Reduction Strategies for Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender-Diverse People With Hereditary Cancer Syndromes

Abstract

Approximately 24 million people in the United States identify as transgender, non-binary, or gender-diverse, and they often face challenges in accessing health care related to education, employment, and economic circumstances. In addition, their gender identity can create other hurdles to receiving appropriate health care, as well as gender dysphoria caused by procedures and preventive cancer screening that do not align with their current gender identity. It is important to consider hereditary risk and gender identity together. Clinicians should engage patients in creating a personalized plan (focusing on genetic risk; age-specific risk; sex assigned at birth and organs present at birth; gender identity; and gender-affirming surgeries and medications) and work with colleagues across medical disciplines to meet the health care needs of this fast-growing patient population.