S6 Ep18: Dr Hajra on being newly diagnosed with breast cancer

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 @drhajrasdiaryIf 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 doctor6:23 Practising breast awareness as a doctor9:02 Biopsies and scans, as a doctor16:18 Receiving biopsy results with friends and family18:09 Hajra is diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer19:19 The treatment plan for Hajra's breast cancer20:26 Being treated as a patient rather than as a doctor21:40 Hajra is the first in her family with breast cancer22:14 The physical effects of chemotherapy23:42 Genetic testing for breast cancer gene mutations29:03 Coping with the impact of a gene mutation diagnosis33:22 Breast cancer treatment and fertility39:22 The effect of chemotherapy on physical apperarance44:57 Hajra's plan for aesthetic treatments after chemotherapy47:28 Thoughts on the upcoming double mastectomy50:15 Mental health and breast cancer treatment53:17 Working during treatment for breast cancer54:53 The importance of sharing your story56:43 What it means to Hajra to "live well"