A BREAST cancer awareness campaign targetting LGBTQ people in NSW has been launched.
The Our United Front campaign has been spearheaded by gender diverse organisation ACON.
Deputy chief executive Karen Price said the campaign aims to raise awareness of breast cancer and increase breast screening rates among gender diverse people.
“Many LGBTQ people will either have personal experience of breast cancer or know someone who has been impacted by it," she said.
"Our United Front aims to bring our diverse communities together, raise awareness around the risks of breast cancer, encourage conversations with each other and inspire people to take action."
The organisation says gender diverse women may be at a higher risk of breast cancer due to the clustering of risk factors and because many may avoid screening.
It said international research suggests women in LGBTQ communities may have lower breast screening rates due to some not accessing health and screening services because of previous negative experiences at healthcare practices or poor treatment from health providers.
'Fear of discrimination'
ACON said fear of discrimination and stigma around sexuality and/or gender identity, anxiety around "coming out" to healthcare providers and inappropriate language used by healthcare professionals to describe body parts - including breasts - can also prevent gender diverse people accessing screening.
The organisation said due to the unique "clustering" of risk factors that women in LGBTQ communities experience, they may also be at higher risk of breast cancer.
Risk factors include not giving birth, or giving birth later in life, and the fact that LGBTQ women have a higher rate of alcohol consumption compared to the general population. Both these factors can increase the risk of breast cancer.
Other risk factors include higher rates of smoking - LGBTQ women smoke almost three times the rate of the general population - and the use of hormones, particularly relevant for some trans women.
ACON said research suggests long-term use of oestrogen also increases the risk of breast cancer.
The new campaign features sporting and social groups.
“Our United Front is unique in its inclusive messaging and visibility of LGBTQ community members, including trans and gender diverse people," Ms Price said.
"The campaign features cis women [a female assigned female at birth], trans women, non-binary and trans masculine members of our community."
Members of the Flying Bats Football Club, Sydney Women’s Baseball League, Dykes on Bikes Sydney, Bentstix Hockey Club, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir and Sydney Frontrunners have taken part in the campaign.
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