Breast, Prostate, Colorectal, and Lung Cancer Incidence and Risk Factors in Women Who Have Sex with Women and Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analysis Using UK Biobank

Simple Summary In this analysis, we look at the number of new breast, lung, colorectal and prostate cancer diagnoses among women who have sex with women and men who have sex with men. In order to do this, we used data from UK Biobank, which is a research database that contains in-depth health information from approximately half a million people in the UK. We found no differences in the number of new cases for breast, prostate and colorectal cancer, but we did find that sexual minority adults have a higher risk for lung cancer, due to greater exposure to smoking.Background. There is limited evidence about cancer incidence for lesbian, gay and bisexual women and men, although the prevalence of cancer risk factors may be higher. Aim. To describe cancer incidence for four common cancers (breast, lung, colorectal and prostate). Methods. This project used UK Biobank participant data. We explored risk factor prevalence (age, deprivation, ethnicity, smoking, alcohol intake, obesity, parity, and sexual history), and calculated cancer risk, for six groups defined based on sexual history; women who have sex exclusively with men (WSEM), or women (WSEW), women who have sex with men and women (WSWM); men who have sex exclusively with women (MSEW), or men (MSEM), and men who have sex with women and men (MSWM). Results. WSEW, WSWM, MSEM, and MSMW were younger, more likely to smoke, and to live in more deprived neighbourhoods. We found no evidence of an association between sexual history and breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer in age-adjusted models. Lung cancer incidence was higher for WSWM compared with WSEM, HR (95%CI) 1.78 (1.28-2.48), p = 0.0005, and MSWM compared with MSEW, 1.43 (1.03-1.99), p = 0.031; after adjustment for smoking, this difference was no longer significant. Conclusions. Sexual minority groups have a higher risk for lung cancer, due to greater exposure to smoking.

Automated summary

This analysis examines the incidence of breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate cancer among women who have sex with women and men who have sex with men using UK Biobank data. The results show no differences in the number of new cases for breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer, but sexual minority adults have a higher risk for lung cancer due to greater exposure to smoking.