Posted on 02/01/2020 12:15:35 PM PST by nickcarraway
Linda Munkley began checking her breasts after one of her German shepherds repeatedly sniffed and butted her chest. She later found a lump and doctors diagnosed fast-growing breast cancer
A dog lover says she owes her life to her beloved pets after they detected her fast-growing breast cancer.
Linda Munkley, 65, started checking her breasts for lumps after unusual behaviour from her alsatians Bea and Enya.
“I have four German shepherds including five-year-old Bea and her three-year-old daughter Enya,” said Linda.
“One day I was sat on the sofa when Bea jumped up and began intensely sniffing and headbutting my chest area. She had never done anything like this before so it was quite unusual but at the time I thought nothing of it.
“But then she kept constantly doing it every day, jumping up at me and really sniffing just my chest area – she was so determined and I couldn’t stop her from doing it at all.
“On and on this behaviour went so I began checking my chest to see if I could feel any lumps but there was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary.”
This strange “headbutting” continued so Linda kept inspecting herself regularly. After two months she made a worrying discovery.
Retired Linda, from Bargoed, said: “Eight weeks went by of the exact same behaviour of Bea headbutting me in the chest and sniffing that specific area until one day I felt a lump in one of my breasts.
“I went to the doctors to have it examined and so they analysed it and carried out a mammogram and then confirmed to me that it was a fast-growing form of breast cancer and it had started spreading to my lymph nodes.
“After it had been diagnosed as cancer Bea’s daughter Enya started carrying out the exact behaviour as her mum, jumping up at me or sitting on my lap and nuzzling at my chest.”
Thankfully Linda’s treatment was successful and she noticed a change in the pooches’ behaviour.
She said: “I started chemotherapy and throughout that time Bea and Enya continued with their behaviour until after my third session of chemo when they both completely stopped all of a sudden.
“I had six months of chemotherapy and then had an operation to remove the lump followed by a month of radiotherapy. After the lump had been removed it was analysed which revealed that the chemotherapy had actually killed the cancer cells.
“I remembered the moment Bea and Enya had stopped sniffing me and wondered if that had been the exact moment the chemotherapy had been successful at tackling the cancerous cells in the lump.”
One of the main reasons Linda was able to recover was due to her speedy diagnosis and her doctor recommended she thank her dogs for what they had done.
Linda said: “During one of the appointments with my doctor I explained what Bea and Enya had been doing and the story spread throughout the whole hospital. My doctor was amazed and told me that I should go home and thank my dogs because they had saved my life.
“As their behaviour had made me keep checking for lumps my cancer was caught in its very first stages which means we were able to successfully tackle it – my doctor even said it was one of the best cases they had ever seen and treated.”
It is well known that pets, particularly dogs, have heightened senses hundreds of times better than those of humans. This makes them ideal to be trained as assistance and medical detection pets so they can alert owners with health conditions of any serious impending medical event. Research is also currently being undertaken to see if dogs can detect diseases, such as cancer, through smell.
Linda shared her story with her local vet Jordi Colas, owner and veterinary surgeon at Vets4Pets Blackwood, during a check-up for one of her other German shepherds.
Jordi said: “When Linda told me her story I was absolutely amazed but I wasn’t too surprised.
“A dog’s sense of smell is millions of times better than our own and so they are able to detect every single individual aspect and tiny odour concentrations of a certain smell.
“I know of dogs therefore being trained to detect the smallest odour traces caused by certain diseases like cancer to help lead to earlier diagnoses.
“Linda’s story is still incredible though and I am so glad to hear that she is recovering well. Bea and Enya are both wonderful dogs and it really humbles you as a human to hear stories like this about how amazing our dogs and their abilities are.”
Linda is currently undergoing a form of chemotherapy every three weeks to help prevent the cancer from returning and is hoping to be discharged and given the all-clear soon.
“Once I am discharged I will have to come back once a year for a check-up but I am overwhelmed at how lucky I have been that my cancer was found and treated so quickly,” added Linda.
“I truly believe that Bea and Enya detected the cancer way before the lump even fully formed and were just trying their hardest to alert me.
“Their senses and abilities are amazing – Bea is a former top show dog and had just started training for police-like duties, like attacking the sleeve, when I first got her but she has had no medical detection training whatsoever.
“Words can’t describe how grateful I am to the both of them – what they have done is just astounding and they really have saved my life. It just goes to show how incredible dogs really are.”
So if a dog sniffs my crotch.... ?
thanks for posting.. I have a dog that has started doing that to me.I will keep watch. i just assuming she was scratching part of her face or something
You have crotch rot. Take a bath.
Testicular cancer.
“So if a dog sniffs my crotch.... ?“
He’s helping you locate that tiny little Johnson of yours. Lord knows you can’t find it on your own.
L
I think it’s because illness — even physical — often has a spiritual component...
Well aren't you just a little ray of sunshine.
Dogs have amazingly keen senses of smell and can detect what are probably chemical changes that we can’t smell. I know of a young woman who is a Type 1 diabetic. She has a service dog that can detect when her blood glucose starts dropping into a dangerous range and I’ve heard of people whose pets seem to do the same thing. I’ve also heard of service dogs who can tell when someone is about to have a seizure. These are well-trained service animals that not only detect impending events but have also been trained in what to do.
If this lady had gotten a mammogram right away, it would likely have shown up at an earlier stage.
So there is your proof... Headbutting dogs give you cancer
Same as sniff’n other dogs butts. Just checking out where you been and who you been doing.
Dogs are just really friendly that way.
But you already knew that,, right?
I miss my Auggie Doggy. He passed away a week ago tomorrow.
Gonna miss him.
I have a friend recently who was diagnosed with NH lymphoma
Very early thank God
One swollen lymph gland deep in his side near his spleen I think
In hindsight he said he noticed before how his girlfriends dog kept always nudging that very spot repeatedly for weeks
Dogs have some serious noses
Makes you wonder why they have to stick their nose up one another’s arse hole since they can likely smell what canine pal had for dinner from way off?
.
Canada cancer dogs have had some success within local fire departments for early cancer detection.
As I recall you send a mask you have worn and if the dog hits on it you repeat the test again. It doesn’t tell you there is cancer in a specific area but that you need to investigate more.
A cat will leave you to die, then eat your body.
That’s why the dog licks you in the face, to get that butt taste out of his mouth.
You need to wash better!
Good puppy!
You got that right
We have two huge uncut male Rottweilers who recognize me as alpha but adore her
Her dogs to be honest.
After a life of guard dogs I share custody of my oldest girls grizzle chihuahua Ruby....never thought I’d like little dogs but I adore her
Anyhow...my wife will let them slobber all over her face even if they just licked booty or schmeg off one another
I’m like what if I lick your face like that...well that’s gross
Women are illogical
They try that with me and I growl at em...no way...I’ll let you or you can put your head in my life until you start farting and one can lay in the bed while we watch Schitts Creek
But that is it
Act up and I’ll put the collar on
They almost got the cat the other night....luckily my oldest boy heard it in the basement...cat was shook up and nipped on its back
Dogs and cats....
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