A Comparison of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Between Lesbian and Heterosexual Women

Purpose/objectives: The purpose of this observational study was to explore differences and similarities in the diagnosis and treatment of lesbians and heterosexual women with breast cancer. Design: Nested survey. Sample and setting: The eligibility criteria for this study were: participation in a survey about the risks for developing breast cancer, diagnosed with breast cancer, returned a prepaid postcard with their name and address, and returned a completed survey about their breast cancer experiences. The typical participant (n = 80) was 55.4 years old (SD ± 9.1, range 41–78), educated with 17.3 years of schooling (SD ± 3.1, range 12–23+), White (91%), urban (44%), and employed (72.5%). Most had health insurance (95%), and currently 15% were on disability or taking sick leave from their jobs. Measurements: The 58-item survey was created, pilot-tested, and revised prior to being utilized in this study. Content validity was established by a multidisciplinary panel of experts. Many of the items had been successfully used in the principal investigator's previous studies. Results: There were no significant differences in demographics, diagnostic procedures, surgical procedures, chemotherapy regimens, or radiation therapy between the lesbians and the heterosexual women in this study. There were, however, significant differences in chemotherapy-induced side effects between the two groups. The lesbians reported significantly more problems than did the heterosexual women. Conclusions: Our study suggests that there are few differences in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer between lesbians and heterosexual women except in chemotherapy-induced side effects. However, this study will need to be replicated with a much larger sample size before any conclusions can be drawn about the diagnosis and treatment of lesbians diagnosed with breast cancer.