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Young Mom Denied Cancer Screening, Now Faces Terminal Illness
25 Jul
Summary
- A young mother was denied breast cancer screenings due to her age.
- She was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer that spread to her bones.
- She is now fundraising to secure a home for her children.
Chantelle Van Der Watt, a mother of two, is now facing an incurable breast cancer diagnosis after being denied screenings in the U.K. due to her young age. Having moved from South Africa in 2020, where she underwent annual mammograms from a young age, Van Der Watt, then 34, found herself ineligible for the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) screening program, which typically starts at 50. This was particularly concerning given her family history of breast and other cancers.
Despite her advocacy, Van Der Watt was told she would have to wait until she was 40 for screenings. She fell ill in January 2026, experiencing fatigue and soreness, and discovered a lump near her nipple shortly before a doctor's appointment. Even after a biopsy and mammogram, doctors initially dismissed her concerns due to her age. However, by February 2026, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and by April 2026, it had spread to her bones, giving her an estimated five years to live.
Van Der Watt expressed frustration, believing earlier screenings at age 38 might have detected the cancer sooner. Milton Keynes University Hospital stated that screening eligibility criteria are set nationally and that they investigated Van Der Watt's case promptly once referrals were made. Currently, Van Der Watt is fundraising on GoFundMe, aiming to secure a permanent home for her husband and children, as the prospect of leaving them without financial stability weighs heavily on her.
