Colon cancer screening information for trans men
Trans men need to be screened for colon cancer according to the following guidelines:
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At average risk, age 50+ |
Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) at least every two years |
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At high risk |
Colonoscopies starting at age 50, or 10 years before a first-degree relative was diagnosed with colon cancer. People at high risk may have:
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Tips for colonoscopies and trans men
If my doctor is sending me to a clinic he hasn’t sent trans people to before, he calls ahead and talks to someone fairly high up to say that he is sending a trans person and do they need some information on what that means? And that, coming from a physician, is very powerful. And then he used to actually write on the requisition that I’m a trans man. And some trans people would hate that but, in this situation, I really liked it because it means there’s a heads-up right away. –Fred
Intimate procedures that examine or expose the genitals can be particularly challenging or risky for trans men. Here are some things that you as a healthcare provider can do to make the experience easier:
Where possible, requisition the colonoscopy at a clinic or hospital with experience in and sensitivity training for LGBTQ populations. If you’re not sure, telephone the clinic in advance and speak to the manager or director to let them know that you are referring a trans client for testing and to make sure they have appropriate training in place.
With your client’s consent, you can note in the file that he is trans, the name he prefers to be called (if different from the name on his health card) and his preferred gender pronouns (often he, him, they and their).
Make sure that your client understands clearly
- what will happen before, during and after the colonoscopy
- that he will receive sedation and pain medication
- how he will receive test results