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Dogs reaction to Breast Cancer

diggergirl
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I was diagnosed with IDC mid August.  Surgery early sept and starting radiotherapy 21st Oct.   since before my diagnosis my gorgeous Goldendoodle starting acting strangely.   She's always been clingy but this was RIDICULOUS.   She would sit staring at me, always want to be leaning or nuzzling me and stuck to me like glue.  (Got to the point that I said to hubby "does she know something we don't know - she's freaking me out".   Oh boy, little did we know then!).  Anyway, Following surgery this calmed down considerable (well.... after I started to recover).   I went to hospital Tuesday for my planning appt before Rads start.   I had CT scan and when I returned home pooch started acting weird again.   Same staring, clingy, nuzzling etc.     Do you think she could smell the hospital or scan?   I've had hospital appts since surgery but not had this reaction from her.  This appt seems to have trigger something with her again.    If it's something to do with the scan, I'm now worrying what she'll be like with 4 weeks (20 sessions) of radiotherapy!    Has anyone else experienced this?  Any tips? 

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    Hi,

    I have stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer and just before I started my treatment I visited a friend who has a border collie. Well he was an absolute nightmare. He basically sat on my lap and continually licked me. Each time I pushed him off he came back. He's never behaved like that before but I hadn't seen him in 6 months and my cancer is extremely aggressive and only appeared in march.

    I'm absolutely convinced that he could smell cancer. Dogs are trained to smell cancer and epilepsy. 

     

    I'm not for a minute suggesting that your dog is smelling a return of your cancer just giving you an insight of my experience.

     

    I do hope that you're ok and your dog just wants to be affectionate. Good luck.

    Barb xx

  • Offline in reply to Barbm

    They are such special creatures.   My doodle is absolutely my baby .   I'm sure she could smell the cancer originally - no doubt.    I don't think this is anything more than me smelling different from the hospital and scan.    I did have very very very close margins from surgery but I'm not overly concerned about return (any buggers lingering will be zapped by radiotherapy in a couple of weeks anyway ).   
    it's more how she will be during radiotherpy.   I suppose I should just enjoy the snuggles and affection  

     

    lorraine - your doodles (in profile pic) are just gorgeous!! Xx

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