Breast Cancer Now · Oct 24, 2025 · 59 min
S6 Ep18: Dr Hajra on being newly diagnosed with breast cancer
0:00-59:31
transcript
show notes
Dr Hajra is a GP and aesthetic doctor who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, aged 37. In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Hajra talks to Laura about the shock of her recent diagnosis, the effects of the chemotherapy treatment she’s undergoing, and the treatment plan coming up, including a double mastectomy.
Hajra also shares the differences in experiencing cancer as a doctor, compared with as a patient, and the surprising ways it’s affected her. She tells Laura about her BRCA gene mutation, and how that news affected her outlook on her breast cancer diagnosis.
You can find Dr Hajra on Instagram @drhajrasdiary
If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).
You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.
Key Topics:
1:56 Hajra's work as a GP and aesthetic doctor
6:23 Practising breast awareness as a doctor
9:02 Biopsies and scans, as a doctor
16:18 Receiving biopsy results with friends and family
18:09 Hajra is diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer
19:19 The treatment plan for Hajra's breast cancer
20:26 Being treated as a patient rather than as a doctor
21:40 Hajra is the first in her family with breast cancer
22:14 The physical effects of chemotherapy
23:42 Genetic testing for breast cancer gene mutations
29:03 Coping with the impact of a gene mutation diagnosis
33:22 Breast cancer treatment and fertility
39:22 The effect of chemotherapy on physical apperarance
44:57 Hajra's plan for aesthetic treatments after chemotherapy
47:28 Thoughts on the upcoming double mastectomy
50:15 Mental health and breast cancer treatment
53:17 Working during treatment for breast cancer
54:53 The importance of sharing your story
56:43 What it means to Hajra to "live well"
Hajra also shares the differences in experiencing cancer as a doctor, compared with as a patient, and the surprising ways it’s affected her. She tells Laura about her BRCA gene mutation, and how that news affected her outlook on her breast cancer diagnosis.
You can find Dr Hajra on Instagram @drhajrasdiary
If you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).
You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.
Key Topics:
1:56 Hajra's work as a GP and aesthetic doctor
6:23 Practising breast awareness as a doctor
9:02 Biopsies and scans, as a doctor
16:18 Receiving biopsy results with friends and family
18:09 Hajra is diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer
19:19 The treatment plan for Hajra's breast cancer
20:26 Being treated as a patient rather than as a doctor
21:40 Hajra is the first in her family with breast cancer
22:14 The physical effects of chemotherapy
23:42 Genetic testing for breast cancer gene mutations
29:03 Coping with the impact of a gene mutation diagnosis
33:22 Breast cancer treatment and fertility
39:22 The effect of chemotherapy on physical apperarance
44:57 Hajra's plan for aesthetic treatments after chemotherapy
47:28 Thoughts on the upcoming double mastectomy
50:15 Mental health and breast cancer treatment
53:17 Working during treatment for breast cancer
54:53 The importance of sharing your story
56:43 What it means to Hajra to "live well"
links4
