I have heard that dogs can sense cancer but I was wondering if anyone has had experience of this?I am currently waiting for my appointment at the breast clinic after finding a lump & my dog was snuggled up with me on the sofa the other night when he suddenly started sniffing & prodding my boob with his nose. Since then he has been extra clingy, he’s by my side every time I move he’s even sitting outside the bathroom when I’m in there. Do you think he can sense something?
Hi Cjice,
Its a hard one to answer really, which is probably why you haven’t had other replies. There is nothing that I’ve personally experienced to prove or disprove that animals can sense cancer, however, I have certainly seen science articles saying that some have been trained to smell for skin cancers and prostate cancers. Animals are indeed very perceptive to changes in human health at times, and of course if they are well bonded with you, human emotional changes. We are still as human beings in the early stages of finding out how much they can help with diagnoses of conditions. We know of cats who have saved people, or who can tell if someone is about to have an epileptic episode, or dogs who can tell when a heart attack is about to happen. There are all sorts of stories out there aren’t there.
I do know this though, even if your dog has smelt bc cell changes (which it seems they are trained for and only for specific cancers), which you certainly won’t know until following the proper medical route…its very hard to prove as it could be a coincidence or it was smelling some other thing on your skin or reacting to you rubbing your own breast with concern. One thing I am certain about is that dogs can certainly sense distress, and unhappiness and fear in their owners, so maybe he is following you about as he can tell you are concerned about your appointment.
How long do you have to wait for your appointment?
Thanks for your reply. I have an appointment in an hour but as it’s in an after hours clinic they are just going to examine me & I’ll have to go back for any tests. This wait is torture.
Thanks charys.they ended up doing a scan & biopsy, they said they are sure it’s ok but they have to wait for results.
I’m really glad they did them & the biopsy didn’t hurt a bit
I strongly believe dogs can sense things. Since I started getting problems with my breast, my dogs have been extra clingy. And lots of excess licking. I know that sounds silly as all dogs lick. But this is extreme and it’s only me they do it too. I’m waiting for my breast clinic appointment, Dr said she’d put a rush on it. But it feels like it’s taking years (it’s 4 days)xx
Hi charys, Thanks for asking. My results came back clear. It was a fibro something.