Woman's Best Friend
- Shannen Doherty claims her dog Bowie detected her first bout with breast cancer before she was diagnosed.
- Doherty is currently fighting metastatic breast cancer after experiencing a recurrence.
- There is no conclusive evidence that dogs can detect cancer cells.
Doherty, 49, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and underwent estrogen therapy treatments, a mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery before being declared in remission in 2018. However, according to Doherty, it was her dog Bowie who sensed she was sick before she even knew it herself.
Read More“When I got back from surgery, [Bowie] again was kind of right in [that] area,” Doherty says. “Then when I had my first chemo, she would sniff my entire body up and down. And she was always protective before, but she has become this crazy, protective dog. It’s hard to get close to me when she’s around.”
Breast cancer survivor Tiffany Dyba says speak up when you feel something is wrong
Can Dogs Really Detect Cancer?
There’s been some debate over this topic. Even though a 2019 study suggests that there may be some truth to the idea that dogs can smell when cancer is present, it certainly doesn’t mean they should replace routine screening. It’s important to note that there’s still no concrete scientific proof that dogs have this specific ability, and no one should rely on them to guide their health. Plus, the study conducted only used one breed of dog, a Beagle, which means there hasn’t been any evidence to suggest that smelling cancer cells is a common trait among many dogs.
Related: Could Dogs Be Used To Protect Cancer Patients From Coronavirus?
"[Dogs] have all of these influences that can throw them off, and we may not recognize it,” says Dr. Cynthia Otto, Director of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine. “We don't want to risk somebody's life on that."
Nothing Beats Standard Screening
Whether it’s a mammogram, colonoscopy, or skin check, it’s important to be proactive about your health. Routine screenings can not only make sure you don’t have any signs of cancer, but if you do, catch it early enough to be treated. Mammograms are the most effective tool in detecting breast cancer, and at a certain age women should be scheduling one every year.
Experts suggest women start scheduling mammograms starting at 45-years-old and continue until around 54. Once you hit 55, you can either continue going through the annual mammogram or choose to do one every two years. Ultimately, it’s up to you and what you feel is best. However, there’s always exceptions to every rule and that goes for mammograms as well. For women who have had a first-degree relative with breast cancer, the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, or radiation on their chest, experts suggest women start mammograms as early as 30-years-old since you might be considered “high risk.”
“Every doctor that I know, every organization that I know really encourages women to have a mammogram,” Dr. Connie Lehman, Chief of the Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, tells SurvivorNet. “I want to be completely clear. If you are between 50 and 74 and you have not had a mammogram in the last two years, you are overdue. Please get a mammogram.”
Dr. Connie Lehman explains when women should start scheduling mammograms
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