Bollywood actress Mahima Chaudhary is urging women to prioritize regular health screenings after her own unexpected breast cancer diagnosis. Speaking at the Young Women Breast Cancer Conference 2025, Chaudhary, who was diagnosed in 2022, shared her startling experience of having the disease detected during a routine annual physical, not a specific cancer screening.
‘I had no symptoms and no clue,’ Chaudhary recounted, emphasizing that breast cancer often presents no outward signs in its early stages. She stressed that without the aid of medical tests, it’s virtually impossible to identify the cancer early. Her message was clear: ‘Cancer is something that you can’t recognize 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.’ This proactive approach, she believes, is vital for successful treatment.
Beyond her personal story, Chaudhary observed positive shifts in cancer treatment accessibility in India over the past few years. She highlighted the significant improvements, including the reduced cost of generic medications and greater collaboration with pharmaceutical firms. The growing societal awareness about cancer was also a point of encouragement for her, along with the strength she drew from the stories of other patients battling the disease.