Mahima Chaudhary On Breast Cancer Discussion: There Were No Symptoms, Talks About Detection

In a recent event, Bollywood actor Mahima Chaudhary opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis, sharing that it was a complete surprise as she had no symptoms. The 52-year-old actor, known for hit movies such as Pardes and Dhadkan, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 during her yearly check-up.

During the session, the actor not just shared her personal and emotional journey but also passed a wake-up call for women to prioritise their routine check-ups, even if they feel healthy, as breast cancer can remain undetected in most cases until it becomes severe or reaches the last stage.

To understand the diagnosis and why breast cancer often shows no symptoms, Onlymyhealth spoke to Dr Poovamma C U, Lead & HOD – Breast Oncology & Oncoplasty, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore.

What Mahima Chaudhary Said

Mahima Chaudhry was speaking at the 2nd International Conference on Young Women’s Breast Cancer and Health, which was organised by the Breast Cancer in Young Women Foundation (BCYWF) and the Indian Oncology Foundation (IOF). Speaking about her diagnosis, she revealed that her Breast Cancer came out of the blue, as she experienced no pain, no lump, or any other visible symptoms.

Also Read: Are Hormonal Contraceptives Linked to Breast Cancer? We Asked an Expert

While talking to a news agency on the sidelines of the event, the Bollywood star shared, “There were no symptoms. I didn't go in for a breast cancer screening. I just went in for a yearly check-up. I had no clue I had breast cancer.”

Highlighting the critical need for regular check-ups, she further mentioned, “Cancer is something that you can't recognise on your own early. It can only be detected early through tests. So if you keep going in for a yearly check-up, you will be able to detect it early and seek early treatment.”

The actor also discussed how the cancer treatment landscape has evolved in India over the years, especially since her diagnosis. “Since my diagnosis three to four years ago, there has been a huge difference in cancer treatment in India. Many generic medicines are much cheaper now, you get better support from pharmaceutical companies, and there's much more awareness of cancer... I got a lot of motivation by hearing the stories of other people fighting strongly against cancer,” she stated.

Breast Cancer: Why On The Rise?

Breast cancer is a disease in which abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), this was the most common cancer in women in 157 countries out of 185 in the year 2022, causing an estimated 670,000 deaths globally.

Dr Poovamma C U explained, “Women adopting urban lifestyles are contributing to this problem as they work long hours, face significant stress, and are less physically active. Even if a woman's overall lifestyle has improved due to an urban migration, consuming a greater amount of processed food increases the risk of breast cancer.”

She further added, “Fewer women are breastfeeding, which is a natural protection against breast cancer. The increasing trend of postponing marriage and pregnancy is also contributing to the rise.”
Also Read: Breast Cancer in Your 20s and 30s: Understanding the Unexpected Rise in Young Women

Why Does Breast Cancer Often Show No Symptoms?

Dr Poovamma highlights that breast cancer is usually asymptomatic in its early stage. She notes, “Tumour growth in the early stage is hard to detect, silent, and thus causes no pain. Most of the changes take place in the interior of the breast, keeping them invisible. Some women have dense breast tissue, which can mask lumps and make it even harder for them to recognise early symptoms.”

Since early breast cancer normally does not provoke any unpleasant sensations, women may not realise that something is wrong, making routine screening crucial for detection.

Regarding diagnosis, Dr Poovamma explains, “Doctors examine a patient physically and confirm their suspicion by an ultrasound, mammogram, a biopsy, or all these methods besides surgery, to check the extent of the disease and the specific type of cancer.”

Breast Cancer Treatments

Dr Poovamma said that surgery is the primary treatment for breast cancer; however, the doctor may include different treatment approaches, depending on the cancer stage and the individual’s health. Here are a few breast cancer treatment methods mentioned by Dr. Poovamma:

Mastectomy: This is a surgery to remove breast tissue. While some women may only require a partial mastectomy, others might need a total mastectomy.

Chemotherapy: This treatment aims to eliminate cancer cells throughout the entire body.

Radiation Therapy: This therapy helps to get rid of any remaining cells in the breast area after surgery.

Hormone Therapy: If the tumour is hormone-dependent or it has particular proteins, then the patient is given hormone therapy or targeted therapy. These drugs help to stop the cancer from growing further.

Using all these methods together, one, two, or three at a time. brings the best possible results for the patient.

Bottomline

Mahima Chaudhary’s breast cancer journey is not just a celebrity case, but a critical message for everyone. Today, after multiple chemotherapy sessions and surgery, the actor is cancer-free and works to inspire women to deal positively with the rising risk of breast cancer among young women. She significantly highlights the need for prevention and timely screenings to understand this disease, which often comes silently, giving you no clue.