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As a trans woman, do I need to get screened for breast cancer?

“Knowing that I’m healthy, or that I don’t have cancer, or that if I do I’ve caught it early enough to be treated — that outweighs the discomfort of getting screened.” -Debbie
  1. Home
  2. Cancer information
  3. Find cancer early
  4. Screening in LGBTQ communities
  5. As a trans woman, do I need to get screened for breast cancer

Breast cancer. It’s not something that any of us like to think about, but for many trans women and people on the transfeminine (male-to-female/MtF) spectrum, breast cancer screening can come with particular concerns.

You may have heard different — or conflicting — information about whether or not you’re at risk for developing breast cancer, whether you should be screened and how often, and if taking hormones or having breast implants have any impact on cancer risk or screening.

It can be hard to make breast cancer screening a priority. Maybe you don’t think you need to be screened. Maybe you’re concerned that you could experience transphobia at the screening facility. Perhaps you’re worried that having a mammogram could be uncomfortable or upsetting. Or, maybe you just don’t want to think about cancer.

Still, it’s important to get screened for breast cancer. This means finding cancer before there are any symptoms. Here’s what we know: 

  • Taking gender-affirming hormones (like estrogen) for more than five years increases your risk of developing breast cancer. If you’ve taken hormones for more than five years, and you’re between the ages of 50 and 69, you should get a mammogram (or other screening test) every two years. 

  • If you’re a trans woman who has never taken gender-affirming hormones (like estrogen), or if you’ve taken hormones for fewer than five years, then you do not need to be screened regularly for breast cancer. 

So, is breast cancer screening worth the hassle and discomfort? The answer is yes. Because your health is worth it. Because your body is worth it. Because cancer doesn’t discriminate.

Find out more about breast cancer screening and answer questions that you might have.

Going for a mammogram

Rita, a member of the LGBTQ community and trans woman, is sick of saying goodbye to loved ones due to cancer. Here she shares her experience going for her first mammogram and encourages others to get screened.