The Lesbian Community Cancer Project (LCCP) in Chicago has partnered with Howard Brown Health Center to ensure that everyone in the LGBT community has access to free or sliding scale health services. Howard Brown offers free clinical breast exams, mammograms, and pap smears to all low-income, uninsured women and is one of twenty community health centers in Illinois that participates in an early screening program for breast and cervical cancer.

The Gildas Club in Chicago is now in collaboration with the Lesbian Community Cancer Project and a support group just for the LGBT community. Membership and participation in all activities is free and begins by calling (312) 464-9900. The LGBT Wellness Group and the LGBT Family and Friends Group meets every Thursday night from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at Gilda's Club Chicago located at 537 N. Wells Street.

The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, (GLMA) researches and publishes facts that life habits and practices in gay males may make them more susceptible to cancer, heart disease, and other serious health problems. The GLMA works to ensure equality in health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals and health care professionals.

Studies show that gay men use tobacco at much higher rates than straight men. Some studies show that statistic is almost 50 percent higher in gays than straight males. Tobacco-related health problems include lung disease and lung cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more serious problems. Studies also show that gay men have higher rates of alcohol dependence and abuse than straight men and the use of substances like amyl nitrate poppers, marijuana, Ecstasy, and amphetamines which could cause serious consequences as they age are more prevalent in gay men. Alcohol consumption and smoking are also related to bladder cancers, colon cancers and others.

Some health professionals now recommend routine screening with anal Pap Smears, similar to the test done for women to detect early cancers. Gay men are at risk for, human papilloma virus, (HPV), that cause anal and genital warts. These infections play a role in the increased rates of anal and oral cancers in gay men.

Having the freedom and courage to discuss your lifestyle openly with your medical doctor is a must. Once that patient - professional relationship has comfortably been made, discussing these health concerns is the first step to maintaining your health.

In 2004, Women In Government launched its Challenge to Eliminate Cervical Cancer Campaign, to raise awareness about cervical cancer and human papillomavirus, HPV. The organization applauded the FDA approval of Gardasil, the first cervical cancer vaccine, for girls and women between the ages of 9 and 26. To guarantee that all girls and women have access to the new cervical cancer vaccine, they are urging the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to include the new cervical cancer vaccine in the federal government's Vaccines for Children Program, which provides free immunization for under-insured and uninsured children.

Women In Government president Susan Crosby stresses the continued importance of annual pap tests and screening in the early detection of cervical cancer caused by HPV in women who have already been exposed to the virus.