Health Outcomes of Sexual and Gender Minorities After Cancer: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Purpose: Cancer research on sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations is gaining momentum. However, literature on patient-reported health outcomes for SGM people with a history of cancer is limited. The purpose of this review was to examine the nature and extent of research regarding patient-reported health outcomes after cancer treatment among SGM populations. Methods: A systematic search of key words, titles, abstracts, and/or major subjects was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL in September 2019 and in EMBASE in February 2020. Included studies investigated at least one physical, psychosocial, emotional, or functional patient-reported outcome related to cancer diagnosis and/or treatment. Articles that met inclusion criteria were reviewed in their entirety, charted in a Word Table, assessed for quality, and trends within and across studies were reported in addition to each study’s results. Results: Fifty-two studies were included in the final analysis; most were quantitative and focused on people with a history of breast and prostate cancer. Most studies were secondary analyses or cross-sectional studies of convenience samples, limiting generalizability. Conclusions: A growing literature describes the patient-reported health outcomes of SGM people with a history of cancer. This study summarizes important between-group differences among SGM and heterosexual, cisgender counterparts that are critical for clinicians to consider when providing care. Implications for cancer survivors: Sexual orientation and gender identity are relevant to cancer survivors’ health outcomes. Clinicians and researchers can build an evidence base to inform care improvements by collecting data on anatomy, sexual orientation, and gender identity in Electronic Health Records and population-based surveys.