Cancer and Bio-detection Dogs

I’ve just come through a frightening but most extraordinary time of my life.
This year around early May things started. I found a lump in my breast during my self examination routine. I checked on my last mammogram results in Jan 2006 which showed all clear so I was not unduly worried. I’ve always owned and loved dogs and currently have two, a retired greyhound Grace (adopted in Dec 2006) and MAX a red collie cross aged nearly ten rehomed by us from the RSPCA when he was one year old. I’ve always had a special bond with him and love him dearly especially as events unfolded. We’ve been told on a few occasions that he is part Norwegian Duck Toller Retriever a hunting/retriever breed. By mid May I thought he was aging fast as he was showing unusual signs not so playful wouldn’t jump on my lap or share our bed or sit at my feet and with his eyes so sad and dull. I stood in front of the bedroom mirror feeling this breast lump and MAX just looked at me so sad and instantly knew that I had cancer. Twenty years prior to all this I’d has a fibroadonoma (non-malignant) removed so I knew limps were rarely cancerous. At other times MAX would come and touch the lump area and back off very unhappy. He would sniff my breath on numerous occasions and I because neurotic thinking I had halitosis and I kept asking Roger my husband if it was offensive and he always said no. I was confused, did I put MAX’s strange behaviour and changes down to his advancing years or was something really wrong. I knew what it all meant on that day I stood in front of the mirror. I saw my GP very quickly and was referred to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire – Breast clinic where after numerous visits involving mammogram and scan (both showing negative!!!), biopsy’s – two lots, my cancer was finally confirmed. On the same day I told my Breast Care Nurse that I already knew as my dear dog had told me. I though she would laugh but she confirmed she’d heard it before. Then I realised I was not going mad and told various friends what I’d experienced. I then went ahead and had my operation to remove the lump and four lymph nodes. Results – invasive lobular carcinoma/ grade 1 / size 2.5cm, all four lymph nodes were clear and there was no vascular invasion. On my return home from the surgery I was greeted by my old Max – totally different, overjoyed and doing all the old things he had done before cancer. He would lay his head across my shoulder and onto my breast when in the car. I knew all was well. He even sniffed my operation site and wagged is tail and his eyes where clear and happy. I now have my old puppy back. He doesn’t sniff my breath anymore unless I’ve just eaten something interesting.
Since the first operation I’ve has to have a further small operation to increase the already clear margin to satisfy my brilliant surgeon. All has gone well and I’m to start the routine radiotherapy soon. I’ve been told the prognosis is excellent.
A close neighbour gave me your article in Yours Magazine after I’d shared my story with her. I tingled when I read it. Thank you. I’m not mad after all.
I’m utterly convinced of some dog’s ability to detect cancer. There is so much to be discovered. Incidentally I don’t think Grace detected anything but the owner of the RGT kennel she came from said she experienced something similar when a man went to adopt a greyhound. She knew instantly from the dog that the man had terminal cancer and only two months to live.
I owe so much to my dear dog MAX and his persistence
I hope my story will help in your research.
In her own words Maureen Burns