British Army Almost Discarded Healthy Teenager Because Her Relatives Had Cancer

The British army is criticized for almost rejecting a teenager because she had relatives with breast cancer.

Carys Holmes, 17, was initially told she couldn't take part because she had an “extensive” family history of the illness, the BBC reports.

The Army has since claimed its rejection was a “mistake” and allowed Holmes to continue with his application.

Holmes' mother and aunt both developed breast cancer, and her aunt tragically died from the disease. His mother is currently undergoing treatment.

Both had a genetic mutation known as BRCA1 that increases the risk of developing cancers, including breast cancer.

Holmes hasn't been tested for the defect, but there's a “50-50” chance she carries it as well, according to the BBC.

BRCA1 significantly increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer – a risk that also increases with age.

Holmes initially tried to appeal the decision, arguing that her risk of developing breast cancer before age 30 would be about 1.9% with the fault, and 0.1% without it .

But this appeal was rejected.

Women who have inherited BRCA1 have a 55 to 72 percent chance of developing breast cancer between the ages of 70 and 80, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

Women generally have a 13% chance of developing breast cancer during their lifetime.

“Having this gene doesn't guarantee she will get breast cancer,” her mother Rachel told the BBC.

“And even if she had the gene, she can take action against it.”

Women at increased genetic risk for breast cancer can take preventative measures to protect themselves against the disease.

About ten years ago, actress Angelina Jolie underwent a preventative double mastectomy due to her risk of cancer.

Although the military recruiting literature does not specifically mention breast cancer risk, it does indicate that applicants may be rejected due to certain family-related disorders.

Nevertheless, the Holmes affair caused outrage in his home country.

A lawyer told the BBC the decision to reject Holmes was unusual and could have been considered discriminatory on the grounds of gender.

Men can also develop breast cancer, and their risk is also higher when they carry the BRCA1 mutation. It remains relatively low, however, with a 2022 study finding that the risk increased in men to 0.4% when they reach age 80. This is a four-fold increase among men in general.

Attorney Emma Norton of the Center for Military Justice said: “If the military has a blanket policy of automatically excluding applications from all women with a history of breast cancer in their family, it would appear, on the face of it , be illegal because it is discriminatory and may even constitute a violation of human rights. »

The army then told Holmes that her application was being considered and, after the BBC published its article, that a mistake had been made and that she was still being recruited.

A spokesperson told the outlet: “Following a review of her case, it was concluded that she had been wrongly told that she had been rejected as medically unfit.”

Calling the rejection a “process error”, they added: “Although a candidate may be referred to occupational physicians to have their case examined, a candidate with the BRCA1 gene will not be systematically refused to join the 'army.”

Holmes, who had already passed her physical fitness and cognitive tests before being rejected, will now begin basic military training in October.