Dog Sniffs Out Her Owner’s Cancer Before Doctors Detect It

By: Ene Ayegba | Last updated: Oct 23, 2023

Animals bring so much joy and companionship to their owners. Dogs are not only great company, but they even go overboard to protect their owners from harm. Take Luna, a dog belonging to a 50-year-old woman named Trisha Allison.

Luna helped her owner detect breast cancer early. The discovery led to a fast diagnosis and therapy that may have dramatically improved Trisha’s prognosis and result. Let’s take a look at how it happened.

Luna’s Unusual Behavior

Trisha was relaxing on her sofa one weekend morning with her dog Luna. Suddenly, the pup lept onto her chest and unintentionally struck Trisha’s right breast. She was surprised and wondered why her dog was so fixated on her body.

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Luna kept sniffing and nipping at Trisha’s chest. She was alarmed by her beloved dog’s unusual behavior and saw the need for further research.

Luna Called It

Luna’s behavior pushed Trisha to take action. She meticulously self-examined her breast, focusing on the spot Luna had seemed most interested in. Trisha was shocked to see an anomaly. She had not observed an unusual lump in her breast previously.

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She quickly booked a biopsy, trusting her gut and Luna’s out-of-the-ordinary actions. After a biopsy, Trisha’s worst fears were realized; she had breast cancer. On the 18th of April, less than two weeks after Luna’s warning, Trisha got her diagnosis, kicking off an aggressive course of therapy.

Trisha’s Cancer Journey

Trisha was determined to beat the odds and remove the lump. Nottingham City Hospital doctors removed the malignant mass from her breast with two operations. Trisha considers the deep connection she enjoys with her canine companion Luna to be what saved her life.

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Luna’s commitment and keen intuition triggered early discovery. Dogs’ persistent sniffing and nudging have sometimes prompted doctors at the hospital to suspect cancer, but the procedure is unreliable.

Luna’s Reminder to Prioritize Health

Luna’s remarkable behavior led to Trisha’s early cancer identification, which saved her life. Even though she regularly does self-examination, Luna’s action reminded her of how important it is.

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Trisha’s extraordinary experience highlights the incredible bond between humans and their canine companions. While dogs may not always be definitive in detecting cancer, they can serve as important reminders to prioritize self-examinations and screenings.