Breast cancer screening awareness among transgender individuals in Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

Background: Transgender women have higher rates of mortality associated with cancer diagnosis owing to inadequate transgender-specific cancer screening, leading to delayed diagnosis. Gender-affirming hormone therapy, age, and genetics are risk factors for breast cancer in transgender women. For transgender men, the risks were similar to those for cisgender women. However, population-based data on breast cancer screening and awareness among these sex groups are limited. Aim: This study aimed to assess breast cancer screening awareness, screening utilization, and factors associated with screening awareness among transgender individuals in Bangkok, Thailand. Methods: This multi-centered study included participants aged 18–80 years without a history of breast cancer. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from October 2021 to October 2022. Sociodemographic data, hormonal use, gender affirming surgery, breast cancer screening awareness, utilization, and reasons for not undergoing screening were recorded. Associations with breast screening awareness were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: In Bangkok, 402 transgender women and 333 transgender men were surveyed. Among them, 92.8% and 64.6% of the women and men groups, respectively, had received gender-affirming hormone therapy. The women group had a higher awareness of breast cancer screening (70.9%) than the men group (60.8%). However, only 4% and 17.1% of the women and men patients, respectively, underwent breast cancer screening. A history of gender-affirming hormone therapy use was associated with a higher likelihood of breast cancer screening awareness among women. Among the men, older participants who later underwent breast-reduction surgery had a family history of breast cancer, and other types of cancer were positively associated with higher breast cancer screening awareness. Conclusion: Although awareness of breast cancer screening among urban transgender individuals is high, multiple factors limit their access to breast cancer screening.