In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s important to learn how you can decrease your likelihood of breast cancer. While there are no studies that say being LBTQ makes a woman more susceptible to breast cancer, there are a few risk factors for breast cancer that are more likely in LBTQ women. The specific reasons that these behaviors are often higher in LBTQ women is not known for certain, but is believed to be due to stress associated with homophobia and being a part of a marginalized group. For more information visit HealthyPeople.gov.

First, alcohol consumption tends to be higher in women who are LBTQ than in women who are not. Consuming more than three alcoholic drinks a week increases the risk of breast cancer, so remember to drink in moderation!

Some studies indicate that lesbians are more likely to be overweight, which can increase chances of breast cancer. Changes in both exercise and a nutritious diet—not just one or the other!—are the most effective and healthy ways to lose weight.

Smoking is another risk factor for breast cancer, and another harmful activity that LBTQ women are more likely to partake in. For information on how to quit smoking, see the Washington State QuitLine website.

Giving birth before the age of thirty, which LBTQ women are less likely to do, can decrease the risk of breast cancer.

Finally, having to come out to health providers can make doctor visits stressful for LBTQ women, which can be a hurdle to getting a regular mammogram. Start by finding a doctor who you feel comfortable with. If you are over the age of 40 and have no risk factors for breast cancer, you should get a mammogram every two years. Over the age of 50, however, or if you have any heightened risk for breast cancer, you should get a mammogram annually. Every woman should do a self-breast exam once a month. To learn how, click here.

Stress is the reason that these things tend to be higher.

Being aware of these risk factors and how they affect you in particular is the first step in decreasing your risk of breast cancer! For more information on breast cancer and the possible causes of it, go to this website.

Information for this blog post was gathered from a Verbena pamphlet on lesbian health titled “Lesbian Health Matters” and the National LBGT Cancer Network.