Colorectal cancer in gay men: What to know

The American Cancer Society (ACS) notes that colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer among people assigned male at birth in the United States. This is regardless of sexual orientation.

However, gay and bisexual people with a penis may be more likely to have certain risk factors that increase their chances of developing colorectal cancer, such as smoking and alcohol consumption. Other risk factors for colorectal cancer include:

• older age
• a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
• obesity
• low physical activity
• a diet high in red and processed meats

Gay and bisexual people can also face more barriers to receiving healthcare and cancer screening, such as:

• lack of healthcare professional training in regard to health considerations for LGBTQIA+ people
• higher likelihood of experiencing homelessness or not being able to access health insurance
• fear of discrimination

If someone feels nervous, they may want to take a loved one with them when they talk with a healthcare professional. If they feel that a healthcare professional has not fully understood their healthcare needs, they can consider requesting another appointment with a different healthcare professional.

Individuals without health insurance or those experiencing homelessness may want to consider seeking further support to access healthcare. Some federal health insurance programs include:

• Medicaid
• Medicare
• Affordable Care Act (ACA)
• Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

The ACS recommends the following:

• Everyone should go to regular colorectal screening appointments from the age of 45 years.
• Healthy individuals who have a life expectancy of more than 10 years should continue regular colorectal cancer screening through the age of 75 years.
• Anyone between 76 and 85 years old should discuss the decision to be screened with their doctor, based on personal preferences, life expectancy, overall health, and screening history.

People can use the ACS screening location tool to find a colorectal screening location near them.

Colorectal cancer does not always cause symptoms, so regular screening is an important part of preventing the condition. However, a person should consider speaking with a healthcare professional if they experience the following symptoms:

A doctor can assess someone’s symptoms and recommend appropriate diagnostic testing and treatment.