\n<\/p>\n
The American Cancer Society (ACS) published a study claiming that \u201cminority stress\u201d affecting LGBTQ individuals increases their propensity to develop cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cMinority stressors\u201d include \u201cprejudice, rejection, discrimination, and internalized homophobia,\u201d reads the Cancer Facts & Figures 2024<\/a>. These stressors are linked to \u201cunhealthy behaviors\u201d within an LGBTQ individual and \u201cincrease cancer risk.\u201d<\/p>\n Those who have \u201cminority stress\u201d are \u201cmore likely to express gene mutations that are functionally related to cancer, and to have chronic side effects of cancer treatment,\u201d the study adds.<\/p>\n LGBTQ cancer survivors are more likely to have \u201cpoor physical and mental health, have higher prevalence of cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use, and frequently experience homophobia and discomfort expressed by health care providers,\u201d the ACS wrote, noting that these circumstances \u201creduce quality of life for cancer survivors.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u201cdiscrimination\u201d experienced by LGBTQ individuals also leads to stress, according to the study.<\/p>\n \u201cMore than half of LGBTQ+ adults have experienced harassment, including slurs, microaggressions, sexual harassment, and violence, and 1 in 3 have experienced discrimination simply trying to use the bathroom,\u201d ACS said. \u201cThis discrimination is most common among people of color and extends to health care settings.\u201d<\/p>\n The number of Americans identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer has continued to rise over the last several years, according to a poll from\u00a0Gallup<\/a>.<\/p>\n 7.6% of American adults now consider themselves LGBTQ, up from 5.6% four years ago.<\/p>\n Much of the LGBTQ identification comes through generational shifts, according to the survey, as Gen Z and Millennials are \u201cfar more likely\u201d than older generations to consider themselves LGBTQ. Gallup noted that \u201ceach younger generation is about twice as likely as the generation that preceded it to identify as LGBTQ+,\u201d with \u201cmore than one in five Gen Z adults\u201d identifying as LGBTQ.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p><\/div>\n