Blood Cancer Awareness Day: Understanding the risks faced by military helicopter veterans

For some UK service personnel and veterans, particularly those who served on military helicopters including the Sea King and Westland Wessex, this awareness day has particular relevance.

Rising number of former service personnel diagnosed with serious cancers

In recent years, media and legal reporting has drawn attention to a rising number of former service personnel diagnosed with serious cancers following prolonged exposure to helicopter exhaust fumes during military service. Aircraft such as the Sea King and Wessex were operated extensively by the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army across training, operational and search and rescue roles.

Aircrew, engineers and support staff have described repeated exposure to exhaust fumes in confined cabin environments, particularly during hover, winching and low‑speed flight. Recent litigating has highlighted concerns that these fumes contained benzene, a recognised carcinogen associated with certain blood cancers.

Blood cancers and delayed diagnosis

Given the long latency period - the time elapsed between exposure and symptoms - many personnel are diagnosed long after leaving service, often without initially connecting their illness to historic roles or exposures.

Importantly, blood cancers don't always present with clear early symptoms. Persistent fatigue, unexplained infections or bone pain can be overlooked or attributed to other causes. 

In some cases, abnormalities are first identified through routine blood tests, prompting further investigation. This makes awareness, among both individuals and clinicians, particularly important.

Exhaust fume exposure concerns date back to the 1990s

Publicly reported material indicates that concerns about exhaust fume exposure on the Sea King were raised as early as the late 1990s, with recommendations made to divert exhaust gases away from crew areas and to provide additional personal protect equipment such as filtration masks. Despite this, the aircraft remained in service until 2018.

Further issues were publicly acknowledged in 2018, when the Ministry of Defence confirmed that asbestos‑containing components had been present in parts of the Sea King fleet for many years, raising additional concerns for aircrew, engineers and maintenance personnel.

Why Blood Cancer Awareness Day matters for veterans

Blood cancers are among the most common cancers in the UK. Awareness days help and encourage people to recognise symptoms, understand risk factors and seek advice earlier.

For veterans who served on helicopters such as the Sea King or Wessex, awareness is particularly important because:

• Symptoms may emerge many years after service has ended
• Exposure histories are not always clearly recorded in medical notes
• Individuals may not realise their service history is medically relevant

Ensuring that full-service roles and potential exposures are recorded in GP and hospital records can be an important step following diagnosis.

Practical steps for those affected

Blood Cancer Awareness Day is about information and reassurance, not alarm. Veterans who served on military helicopters and who have been diagnosed with a blood cancer, or who have ongoing health concerns , may wish to:

• Ensure their service history and roles are clearly documented in medical records
• Discuss any occupational exposure concerns with their GP or consultant
• Ask whether further investigation or monitoring is appropriate
• Seek support from blood cancer charities and veteran organisations

Every individual’s situation is different, and outcomes depend on medical history, service records and diagnosis.

The role of specialist legal insight

I work extensively with Armed Forces veterans and have represented a number of former service personnel diagnosed with blood cancers many years after leaving the military. While nothing can make up for what they've been through, a legal claim can help veterans not only secure answers but also compensation and access to ongoing specialist treatment and rehab. 

A supportive approach

Supporting the Armed Forces community goes beyond the legal process alone. It involves listening to lived experience, understanding long service histories, and helping individuals access the right medical, welfare and specialist support at what can be an overwhelming time.

Blood Cancer Awareness Day offers an opportunity to reflect, to listen to veterans’ stories, and to ensure that those affected feel informed, supported and heard, now and in the years ahead.

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting Armed Forces personnel diagnosed with life-changing illnesses at our dedicated military claims section.