Allowed to enlist with lump in breast?

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militarygirl
militarygirl Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

I was wondering if anyone has ever experienced this issue or know of anyone who has. I am considering joining the military but I have detected a lump in my breast. I have not had it diagnosed as I do not have insurance, also it has not given me any problems or anything. I have heard that you are given a physical exam before enlisting, and I was wondering if they do a breast exam on you, or if I let them know about the lump, will I still be able to enlist even if the lump is found not to be a threat?

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2008

    If you are young enough to enlist in the military, the chances are very good that the lump you are feeling is benign, but.... the only way to know for sure is to get it checked out.  You should be doing that for yourself regardless of your potential military career. 

    You might want to start by contacting your local health department, or local branch of the American Cancer Society to see what services are available in your area to someone in your situation at low or no cost. 

    If you try to enlist without disclosing the lump, you could have other major issues with the military, and you don't need that.  Ask your recruiter what happens if the physical turns up an issue... the different branches have different thresholds, and that may affect the answer.  Also, your recruiter may be more likely to find a way to help you get through the physical if he/she is having issues making his/her quota of recruits for the month, so even if you don't "qualify" instantly after getting the all clear on the lump, a couple of months time, or a different recruiter might give you a different answer. 

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  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited November 2008

    I think PatMom gave you good advise..

    Never a good idea to not tell the truth to the Military...I was

    in the Navy 45 years ago...it was a wonderful experience

    I resigned  forty years ago because they couldn't station

    my husband and I at the same place...but he stayed in until

    retirement...

    There were several active duty Navy and Marine Corps women in

    my physical therapy rehab group at the Naval Hospital...who had

    been throught treatments for breast cancer...

    So find a way to have it looked at...most lumps at your age are

    benign....

    Wishing you well.,,,

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