# Characterizing Breast and Cervical Cancer Burden Among Sexual Minority women

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · 2024 · $116,466

## Abstract

Project Summary
More than 8 million women in the US identify as a sexual minority- including lesbian, gay,
bisexual, or queer, yet the health needs of this population remain understudied. Studies show
sexual minority women are less likely to receive routine preventive care, including cancer
screening. Studies of breast and cervical cancer risk among sexual minority women are mixed,
with higher prevalence of risk factors including smoking, alcohol use, and obesity, but lower
prevalence of risk factors such as HPV infection and use of hormonal contraceptives. As no
national cancer registries collect information on sexual identity, we have no population-level
estimates of cancer burden among sexual minority women and are unable to accurately
evaluate disparities or prioritize interventions to improve low screening rates. We propose to first
characterize existing sexual identity disparities in cervical cancer screening uptake using a
structural equation modeling approach (Aim 1). This approach will evaluate the extent to which
previously described disparities in screening uptake are mediated by differences in care access,
prevalence of cancer risk factors, or both. We will then incorporate these data into a simulation
model of cancer progression to produce feasible estimates of cervical cancer incidence and
mortality by stage among sexual minority women (Aim 2). Finally, we will repeat the application
of this full framework to assess relevant mediators of breast cancer screening and update the
existing model to reflect our understanding of breast cancer natural history to estimate incidence
and mortality among sexual minority women (Aim 3). My career to date has focused on using
econometric and simulation modeling to better understand and address gaps in cervical cancer
prevention among traditionally underserved populations. My ultimate goal is an independent
research career focusing on effective strategies to reduce cancer health inequities among
sexual and gender minority individuals. This award will allow her to take the next step in her
career, building on her background in health equity and decision modeling while facilitating her
training in causal epidemiology approaches, breast cancer epidemiology, and the health needs
of sexual minority women. Dr. Spencer's training plan draws on the extensive methodological
expertise of her mentorship team and the exceptional educational and professional resources at
Dell Medical School. The overall goal of this work is to improve the health of sexual minority
women through characterizing multilevel sources of inequities in breast and cervical cancer
screening, incidence, and mortality.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10894825
- **Project number:** 5K01MD017633-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Jenny Spencer
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $116,466
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-07-27 → 2028-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10894825

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10894825, Characterizing Breast and Cervical Cancer Burden Among Sexual Minority women (5K01MD017633-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10894825. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*