For many women, breast cancer is a specter that looms quietly, often undetected until it is well underway. But for actress Mahima Chaudhary, the discovery of her own breast cancer in 2022 was not only unexpected—it was a wake-up call for women everywhere. Her story, shared recently at the Young Women Breast Cancer Conference 2025, has reignited a crucial conversation about early detection, the silent nature of the disease, and the urgent need for healthcare system improvements.
Mahima’s journey began, not with a symptom or a scare, but with a routine yearly check-up. According to One World News, Mahima had no pain, no visible changes, and no inkling that anything was amiss. “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. 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...” Mahima told ANI on the sidelines of the conference. Her diagnosis, caught at an early stage, was a direct result of this precautionary visit—a fact she now shares with urgency, hoping to dispel the myth that one can simply ‘feel’ cancer coming on.
Her experience is not unique. Patricia Quinlan, a breast cancer survivor from Over Hulton, England, also discovered her stage one cancer after a routine mammogram in 2023. “I went for my mammogram thinking nothing of it but it soon turned into 18 biopsies and a week or so later I was told I had stage one cancer,” Patricia told NHS Bolton. Like Mahima, Patricia had no symptoms before her diagnosis. Her story underscores a critical message: breast cancer can develop quietly, making regular screenings and vigilance essential.
For both women, the shock of diagnosis was matched only by gratitude for early detection. Mahima emphasized at the conference that catching cancer early dramatically improves treatment outcomes, speeds recovery, and increases survival rates. “Early detection is not just important—it can be life-saving,” she said, urging women of all ages to prioritize annual screenings, including mammograms and clinical exams, even if they feel perfectly healthy. Patricia echoed this sentiment, especially for older women, noting that those over 71 are not automatically invited for screenings in the UK but can still book appointments. “It’s so important to catch the cancer as early as possible. I would encourage everyone to go for a mammogram, it’s best to know,” she said.
Yet, not all women have been as fortunate. In Northern Ireland, a crisis of delayed diagnoses and treatments has put countless lives at risk. According to BBC News NI, three patients at the Notting Hill Medical Practice waited over eight weeks to see a consultant after being red-flagged for suspected breast cancer, while nine others are still waiting—one for more than 10 weeks. One woman, after being told there were more than 80,000 women ahead of her on the waiting list, paid privately for a diagnosis. The result: stage two breast cancer. “I am furious about the delay and am feeling the strain mentally and physically,” she shared, choosing to remain anonymous. Another woman, diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, described her care as “inadequate, not joined up and impersonal,” after a series of miscommunications between health trusts delayed her treatment by nearly ten weeks. “It’s been horrific and my family and I are emotional wrecks,” she said, having started chemotherapy only at the end of October 2025.
Dr. Jilly O’Hagan, a County Antrim GP, voiced her “huge concern” for women needing breast cancer treatment in Northern Ireland. “The new regional breast cancer service is not functioning - there is a bottleneck, they are not meeting the targets for women who are red-flagged,” she told BBC News NI. The official target is for red-flagged patients to be seen within two weeks, but between April and June 2025, about 67% of patients waited longer than the 62-day target from urgent referral to treatment start. Naser Turabi of Cancer Research UK called it “a matter of patient safety and survival,” warning that every four-week delay reduces survival by an average of 10%.
The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has acknowledged these failings. While £5 million has been allocated to address capacity shortfalls in breast assessment services, and outpatient waits over four years have dropped by 29%, a third of the £215 million set aside to tackle hospital waiting lists has been diverted to address a massive deficit. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt admitted, “Delays in access to breast assessment will heighten patient anxiety,” but expressed hope that waiting times, now averaging seven weeks, would continue to decrease.
Amid these systemic challenges, survivors like Mahima and Patricia are stepping up as advocates and fundraisers. Mahima, now a prominent voice for women’s health, urges women to take charge before symptoms appear. “Awareness must begin early, not after symptoms appear,” she insists, encouraging young women to recognize risk factors and never neglect annual check-ups. Her openness has inspired many, turning her personal battle into a source of strength for others.
Patricia, meanwhile, has taken her gratitude and turned it into action. In November 2025, she hosted an ABBA tribute fundraiser at her local Conservative Club, raising more than £500 for the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s breast services specialty fund. “I wanted to give something back by raising money for Our Bolton NHS Charity and the Breast Unit so they can invest in equipment and continue to provide such excellent care,” she said. The fundraiser’s success has inspired her to plan a jazz music event for March 2026, ensuring that support for patients continues to grow. She also praised the recent expansion of clinic rooms at the breast unit, which will reduce waiting times and increase patient capacity.
Both women highlight the improvements in cancer care over recent years. Mahima noted that treatment options are now more affordable, thanks to generic medicines, and that emotional support for patients has grown. “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 said.
Despite the progress, the stories of Mahima, Patricia, and countless others serve as a stark reminder: breast cancer can strike without warning, and early detection is the best defense. For women across the world, the message could not be clearer—don’t wait for symptoms, don’t ignore routine screenings, and demand better from healthcare systems. As Mahima’s journey shows, a simple check-up can change, or even save, a life.
