Background: The physical health of people with intellectual disabilities has been identified as an area of ongoing concern and priority. Research has increasingly focused on cancer, with studies indicating people with intellectual disabilities are at an increased risk of cancer and of mortality, compared with the general population. This review aims to systematically identify and synthesize the published academic literature exploring cancer risk-factor and symptom awareness among people with intellectual disabilities, carers, and healthcare professionals.

Methods: In line with Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework for scoping reviews, five incremental stages were followed: (1) identify research question, (2) identifying relevant studies, (3) study selection, (4) extracting and charting of data, (5) collating, summarizing, and reporting results. Findings were reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews, PRISMA-Scr.

Results: The search strategy identified 352 records, 16 records met all eligibility criteria and were included for review. The studies address a range of areas including knowledge and awareness of cancer risk-factors and symptoms, and interventions to promote awareness of cancer.

Conclusions: Cancer risk-factor and symptom awareness is low among adults with intellectual disabilities, paid and unpaid carers, and HCPs. Theoretically underpinned, co-designed tools and interventions to improve awareness are lacking. There is uncertainty surrounding how to best support people with intellectual disabilities in raising cancer awareness, even within the professional healthcare environment. There is a predominance of research on breast cancer awareness. Future studies focusing on other cancers is needed to build a complete picture of awareness among adults with intellectual disabilities, paid and unpaid carers, and HCPs.