Meera Kotecha, 39, from Middlesex, Greater London, has shared her story of being diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma after initially dismissing a lump in her breast as a blocked milk duct. She credits a chance conversation with her sister, Kaajal, 44, for prompting her to seek medical help.
In December 2024, while breastfeeding her son Rio, Kotecha discovered a lump. She assumed it was a common breastfeeding issue and delayed seeing a doctor. It was only when her sister mentioned she was having a lump checked that Kotecha decided to act. Her sister's lump turned out to be benign.
Diagnosis and Treatment
In early March 2025, Kotecha contacted her GP and was referred to a breast clinic. A mammogram and ultrasound revealed a 35mm lump, and a biopsy confirmed grade two, hormone-positive, HER2-negative invasive ductal carcinoma. She began treatment in April 2025, undergoing 16 rounds of chemotherapy, including four cycles of doxorubicin (the "red devil") and 12 rounds of another drug. She tried cold-cap therapy to save her hair but lost it anyway.
By September 2025, chemotherapy was completed, and she had surgery to remove the tumour. She was declared cancer-free a week later but underwent 20 sessions of radiotherapy, finishing in December 2025. Because the cancer was hormone-positive, she now takes daily oestrogen-blocking medication, monthly injections to stop ovarian production, and additional treatments including targeted therapy and bone-protecting infusions.
Impact and Awareness
Kotecha described explaining her hair loss to her seven-year-old daughter Serena as the hardest part. The treatment has also meant she and her husband Vivek, 43, cannot have more children. She now encourages regular breast checks and urges people not to ignore symptoms. "If my sister hadn't spoken to me about her lump when she did, I might be looking at much worse outcomes," she said.
Manveet Basra, associate director of public health, inclusion and awareness at Breast Cancer Now, said: "Two thirds of breast cancers are found by breast checking, so learn the signs and symptoms of breast cancer today and get into the habit of checking your breasts regularly."
