Lesbian women may be at higher risk of developing breast cancer than heterosexual women. Lesbians are often less inclined than heterosexual women to access conventional medical treatment due to lower economics, fear of discrimination and past negative experiences with health care causing them to avoid health care all together. Due to a lack of equal rights with partners that are insured, unlike heterosexual couples, many lesbians with lower income jobs that cannot afford individual insurance plans, can not join on the insurance policy of their partners.

There is no genetic difference between heterosexual and homosexual women that increases disease risk among lesbians but the lack of screening taking place within the lesbian community increases the chances that a woman will be diagnosed in more advanced stages of cancer. Then at later stages there are fewer treatment options. One other factor in the lesbian community is that women who have children after age thirty, or never at all, are at increased risk for breast cancer. It is believed that certain hormones released during pregnancy act as a preventative force against breast cancer. Studies show that lesbians are less likely than heterosexual women to have children, and therefore may be at increased risk. African American lesbians have the highest risk factors for breast cancer than any other group.

Like gay males, the lesbian and bisexual population tend to consume more alcohol and also smoke more than heterosexual women. Whether this is done as a tension reducer or for social interactions is not determined but addiction frequently follows and is associated with higher rates of cancers, heart disease, and emphysema which are the three major causes of death among all women.