Cancer Screening for Transgender Individuals: Guidelines, Best Practices, and a Proposed Care Model

Abstract

Few transgender-specific cancer screening recommendations exist. This review aims to cover current guidelines and practice patterns of cancer screening in transgender patients and, where evidence-based data are lacking, to draw from cisgender screening guidelines to suggest best practices for transgender patients based on anatomic inventory. Sufficient evidence does not exist to determine the long-term effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy on cancer risk. In the future, cancer screening and prevention should be focused on anatomic inventory and high-risk behaviors.

Keywords: Cancer screening; Gender-affirming hormone therapy; Gender-affirming surgery; Trans female; Trans male; Transgender health.