research shows lesbians to be prone to cancer

By Mongezi Mhlongo (BTM Reporter)

HEALTH – 22 October 2008: As October marks breast cancer awareness month, a research conducted by lgbthealthchannel website (focusing on gay health and wellness issues) found that lesbians, bisexual women and women who have sex with other women are more likely to develop breast cancer than heterosexual counterparts.

The findings emphasise that breast cancer can at times be associated with nulliparity – the state of not giving birth.

According to Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), “breast cancer is the leading women’s cancer in South Africa, with 1 in 26 women diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.” The association also claims that more than 3000 women die each year from breast cancer in the country.

Other factors that may contribute to these women to become prone to contract breast cancer, according to CANSA, include smoking, alcohol, obesity and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) particularly lesbians replacing hormones with those of the opposite sex.

Martha Molete, the executive spokesperson of CANSA, indicated that it is time to raise awareness about reduction of developing breast cancer for women.

“Women must love themselves and help to detect cancer early through breast self-examination (mammogram) on advice of a doctor after age 40, and getting support if diagnosed”, she advised.

She pointed out that there’s little done to raise awareness among lesbians, bisexuals and WSW regarding breast cancer.

Director Nonhlanhla Mkhize of Durban Lesbian and Gay Community Health Centre echoed the same sentiments suggesting that breast cancer awareness month is a great opportunity to draw public attention to specific diseases that nobody is immune to but possibly at risk of.

She indicated that there are initiatives taken by non-gay health organisations to raise awareness on breast cancer, but the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) sector is excluded.

“Sadly, since other health organisations are not primarily concerned about LGBTI communities, education on breast cancer and other cancers targeting these communities will remain solely at the hands of the few LGBTI organisations”, Mkhize emphasised. 

On the other hand Delene van Dyk, Mental Health Manager at OUT LGBT-Wellbeing, has expressed the way in which lesbians are being marginalised by the health systems regarding certain needs.

“This has an influence on how lesbians themselves and the LGBTI community as a whole respond to their health issues. Many lesbian women underestimate their chances of getting cancer and they might not be aware of the risks”, said Van Dyk.

According to her, there should be intervention programmes aimed at lesbian women so that they start taking care of themselves including physical and emotional wellbeing.

Meanwhile, Van Dyk showed some delight about a recently formed initiative called Prevention and Research Initiative for Sexual Minorities Community Centre (PRISM). She says the service the initiative offers could “complement the current available services such as the OUT Clinic and Wellness centre.”

PRISM is a collaborative effort between 17 organisations in the Global South aimed at increasing the quantity and quality of HIV and STI prevention for men who have sex with other men (MSM) as well as WSW.

She revealed that OUT LGBT-Wellbeing will launch health and wellbeing workshops that will be aiming at distributing information on the signs of breast cancer and the process of breast examination in 2009.

Meanwhile Beulah Jankelowitz, the national coordinator of Reach for Recovery (an international breast cancer support group), and a breast cancer survivor, admitted that breast cancer is a scary diagnosis which does not discriminate between race, religion, colour or creed.

She however consoled that; “It is not a death sentence. [But] it is a life sentence in that one needs to be vigilant and go for all necessary medical check ups.”