A new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society where they have confirmed that there have been recent reports that showed that there is a higher prevalence of cancer among Gay men in comparison with the heterosexual men, similarly lesbian and bisexual female cancer survivors reported lower levels of health than heterosexual female cancer survivors.

The study’s findings also suggested about the programs and services that are needed to help lesbian, gay, and bisexual cancer survivors.

There are no such cancer surveillance studies where they ask questions about sexual orientation, which means there is little or no information about the lesbian, gay, or bisexual cancer survivors.

Ulrike Boehmer, PhD, of the Boston University School of Public Health and her colleagues in the hope of filling this information gap, examined the prevalence of cancer survival by sexual orientation in California.

They also investigated how the health of cancer survivors differs depending on sexual orientation. Their life after cancer, and their survivor rates.

The study included data from the California Health Interview survey from 2001, 2003, and 2005. This survey is the largest state health survey conducted in the United States. A total of 7,252 women and 3,690 men reported a cancer diagnosis as adults. The researchers found no significant differences in cancer prevalence by sexual orientation among women, but lesbian and bisexual female cancer survivors were 2.0 and 2.3 times more likely to report fair or poor health compared with heterosexual female cancer survivors. Among men, gay men were 1.9 times more likely to report a cancer diagnosis than heterosexual men.

Male cancer survivors’ self-reported health did not significantly differ by sexual orientation.

This is very helpful information which will aid in the development of services for the lesbian, gay, and bisexual population.

There has been an increasing report on gay cancer survivors, henceforth foremost programs are required for gay men that will target primarily on cancer prevention and also detection of cancer.

Moreover as there are more reports from lesbian and bisexual women who complain of poor health in comparison with the heterosexual women therefore there arises a great need of foremost programs and services that will improve the well-being of lesbian and bisexual cancer survivors.



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