Access to healthcare is essential for effective cancer prevention and early detection. However, research involving transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex (TGDI+) people has identified several barriers:
- Legal sex registration and administrative records may not provide the clinical information needed to assess cancer risk. Healthcare providers can address this by considering relevant anatomy, hormonal exposure, and surgical history when recommending cancer prevention and screening.
- Experiences of stigma, discrimination, and structural barriers may affect access to care and health decision-making. Healthcare providers can support more equitable care through inclusive communication, gender-affirming practices, and shared decision-making.
- Eligibility and invitation systems based on legal sex registration may create barriers to existing cancer prevention programmes. Healthcare providers can help identify individual screening needs, explain available options, and support access to appropriate services.
Addressing these barriers requires both appropriate clinical knowledge and inclusive care practices.
