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As a trans man, do I need to get screened for chest cancer?

“You want to feel good about your chest. And you want to know your body well enough to know if something is wrong, even if you’ve had chest surgery.” -Brady
  1. Home
  2. Cancer information
  3. Find cancer early
  4. Screening in 2SLGBTQI+ communities
  5. As a trans man, do I need to get screened for chest cancer

Cancer in the chest area. It’s not something that any of us like to think about, but for many trans men and people on the trans masculine spectrum, screening for cancer in the chest area comes with particular concerns.

It can be hard to make chest cancer screening a priority, especially if the process is at odds with your gender identity. Maybe you feel ambivalent about having breasts or prefer the word “chest.” Maybe you’re concerned that you may experience transphobia at the screening facility. Perhaps you’re worried that having a mammogram could be uncomfortable or upsetting. Or, maybe you just don’t want to think about cancer.

But if you’re a trans man aged 40 to 74 and not at high risk for chest cancer, have a mammogram every 2 years. Regular screening is the best way to find chest cancer early, before there are any symptoms and when treatment is most effective.

So, is chest cancer screening worth the hassle and discomfort? The answer is yes. Because your health is worth it. Because your body is worth it. Because cancer doesn’t discriminate.

Find out more about chest cancer screening.