A recent study found out that homosexual men have double the risk than other males to be diagnosed with and survive cancer. This shines a new light on the medical risks that gay people are facing today.

This is not the first time a study has seen differences in health risks associated with sexual orientation. Gay men, for example, hold higher risks of getting sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, while homosexual women or lesbians have higher risks of getting breast cancer compared to heterosexual women.

Studies also show that more lesbian women and gay men smoke tobacco than the general population. Moreover, lesbians drink alcohol more often than others and are more inclined to obesity.

This study that was published in May 9 examined surveys that involved at least 122,000 residents of California from 2001, 2003, and 2005. Included in the survey questions were sexual preferences and whether or not the participants were diagnosed with cancer.

The results show that 8 percent of the gay respondents have had cancer; double the rate among straight guys and bisexual men who participated in the survey.

Lesbians did not show higher rate of cancer occurrence compared to other women. However, a lot lesbian women who survived cancer reported that they have observed that they have poor health.

Liz Margolies, executive director of the National LGBT Cancer Network, said that even though things have changed and the society is more receptive to gay men and lesbian women, many of them still face unwelcoming atmosphere in a lot of medical offices. She added that unless this is addressed, many homosexuals will continue not to seek medical help.