To worry?

[DoctorDogs]

For the last month, my dogs have been sniffing my right breast every time I’m near them. I’ve done a check and have no lumps, pain, etc. I’m on my period, but they were sniffing it before that too.

It doesn’t matter if I change tops or shower, they keep doing it. All I can think of is those stories of dogs sniffing out breast cancer.

AIBU?

Have your dogs been trained to sniff out cancer? I don’t think it’s a thing dogs can randomly do.

I'd be worried too, as I do think there are reports of dogs randomly doing this. I'd be going to the doctor to beg for a breastsquish test, as they are called in this house. Hope all comes up negative for you x

I met a lady the other day who credited her dog with finding her cancer. I didn't quite get to grips with how but she was adamant he had saved her life.

Never a check up wasted surely?

There's definitely stories of this happening. It's one of those isn't it, it could be something or nothing? I'm not sure if you'd have to pay private, but I'd have to act.

Thanks all! Nowhere near me seems to be offering them to under 30s. The age requirement (as if cancer has an age requirement 🙄) is 40 at minimum

Reading a little bit more, it seems that all the women whose dogs detected breast cancer were over 40, and the dogs displayed the same behaviors - pawing and nudging.

My dogs aren’t pawing my breast. They sniff and then move on to whatever else they’re doing. They’re not glued to my side anymore than they normally are, and there’s no pain or lumps in either of my breasts.

I am on my period so maybe it’s a hormonal thing?

They don't need to be trained to sniff out cancer - being able to smell it comes naturally to them. The training part is getting them to indicate when they've found a problem. It's like a drugs dog - all dogs can smell cannabis or explosives, but most of them will just notice it and ignore it, or they will think 'I wonder what that smell is, how interesting' without telling you - ie they will react to it in the same way they react to any smell they happen to find interesting, whether that's a kilo of heroin or another dog's wee. You might notice them giving it a good old sniff, but you wouldn't know what it was they were sniffing.

Whereas a trained sniffer dog will deliberately search for that specific scent and will then tell you exactly where it is by sitting down suddenly or barking or indicating it with their paw.

Can you pay for a well woman check?

I had one once: it was a full MOT including breast examination

Several years ago I asked for a mammogram because my cat seemed very interested in my left boob. Nothing was found then, or in at least one other subsequent mammogram.

However at least 5 years later, maybe even more, I have just had a mastectomy of my left breast due to breast cancer. Strange coincidence? Or maybe there are changes which can be identified by animals way sooner than can be detected using current technology. Who knows!

Thanks everyone for your replies! I’m going to keep an eye on things and up my self-examinations. I keep on top of these things due to family history, so if they’re still doing it by next month or I feel anything new, I’ll book in for a check

Talk to your GP. According to Macmillan, women under 30 aren’t offered breast screenings as the tissue is denser and the scans don’t spot anything. They’re offered an MRI instead depending on risk. You suggest you may have higher risk because of your family history

If you can please pay for a well woman check. You'll worry until you put your mind at rest
I believe animals can detect things we overlook