Breast Cancer Screening attendance rates for trans and non-binary patients can be hard to track as the NHS does not monitor a person’s trans identity in the system, but a peer reviewed study shows that they are less likely than cisgender patients to attend routine screening. Bisexual women were also less likely than heterosexual women to attend a Breast Screening.

NHS Breast Cancer Screening invitations begin to arrive after the patient reaches the age of 50. However, a letter will only be automatically triggered if the patient is registered as female (or indeterminate) at their GP. This system can miss people who are eligible for lifesaving screening, such as trans men with breast tissue who are registered as male with a GP

Breast Cancer Screening can detect breast cancer early. Earlier detection can lead to better outcomes for the patient and ultimately save many lives. Best For My Chest will not only revolutionise communication around Breast Cancer Screening for the LGBTIQ+ community, but it will also educate and inform them to alleviate concerns and fears of what to expect at a screening appointment.

Research[1] tells us that trans women and non-binary people registered male at birth who have taken feminising hormones are at an increased risk of breast cancer. However, it is essential to note that this risk is no greater than their cisgender female peers, and therefore the NHS Breast Screening Programme can be safely attended and should be recommended for trans and non-binary people who have taken feminizing hormones for five years or more.

The peer-reviewed study[2] recommends that “enhanced cancer prevention outreach is needed among gender and sexual minorities.”

Our new campaign has been launched to address this issue and aims to positively impact the LGBTIQ+ community’s understanding of and attendance to Breast Screening.

Helping the LGBTIQ+ community understand, and access Breast Screening is the core focus of the Best For My Chest campaign, a joint project between Live Through This and NHS North East London Cancer Alliance.

Stewart O’Callaghan, founder and CEO of Live Through This, the UK’s only LGBTIQ+ cancer charity, explains why education and engagement in the LGBTIQ+ community is so vital: “Breast Cancer Screening saves lives, but our community can face multiple barriers when trying to access this vital service. Whether they face issues with receiving an invitation, have fears about the appointment or just feel disconnected from the usual messaging and campaigns. That is why Best for my Chest was created to let our community know that this service is for them, and they will be treated with respect when they use it. Our campaign centres around four community champions to share their experiences in their own words as they guide our community towards better health.”

The Best for my Chest campaign launched in a queer venue in Shoreditch, East London on 6th October, timed to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The campaign aims to make Breast Cancer Screening more inclusive for the entire LGBTIQ+ community. The team dedicated twelve months to engaging with healthcare practitioners, and most notably, the LGBTIQ+ community to identify the issues faced by those accessing Breast Cancer Screening.

Jake Chambers, Project Manager for the Best For My Chest campaign from NHS North East London Cancer Alliance, said: “The Best for my Chest campaign has not only been about effecting positive change within the community. It has been about addressing the very barriers preventing access to healthcare within the NHS through the delivering of additional training sessions for the breast screening services, so they feel better equipped to support the needs of our LGBTIQ+ communities. Everyone wants to be treated with dignity and respect and knowing that through this campaign more people will be, is incredibly rewarding.”

The eye-catching campaign features people from the LGBTIQ+ community – both in front and behind the camera, bringing it to life and delivering lifesaving messaging. The new website provides hints, tips, educational resources, links to medical services, and plenty of advice designed to speak directly to the community it serves.

Sophie, one of the campaign champions, is a trans woman who has attended her first Breast Cancer Screening and said of her experience: “It wasn’t as bad as most people would think. I was able to change in private. I was treated with respect throughout and found the whole process pretty easy. To be honest, receiving the appointment and having my screening was quite affirming, so it was a positive experience, and I am not worried about the next one.”