newly diagnosed with ilc and and my basset hound found it first

alisathemom
alisathemom Member Posts: 9
edited June 2014 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

Hi, my name is Alisa and I live about 20 minutes outside of Dallas. I have had a fiboadenoma as my companion for the past 25 years whic has been mamogrammed, ultrasounded and checked every year. I am now 45. In addition, i have had the thing biopsied 3 times in the past 25 years with always the same result: benign. . In November after my period, the normal swelling didnt diminish as much as it normally does. But I didnt think too much about it because it was my old friend again.

My basset hound Snickers became obsessed with sniffing th exact spot where the fibroadenoma was! To the point where I had to push her off of my chest multiple times. Then .i noticed that if i scooped under the fibroadenoma, it felt different, like it was on a large plate

So, I moved up my annual well woman exams and my PCP who is awesome, agreed to have the works ordered. Core biopsy results: micro invasive lobular carcinoma. My mass is huge, 7.5 cm but mostly fibroadenoma. How weird is that? 

Anyhow, I am now working with the breast team at Sammons cancer center at Baylor, which is thankfully only a 20 minute drive from my house. My surgery is scheduled for March 10, with BMX, even though right boob is clear. My choice because of family history, it being ilc and wanting symmetry and peace of mind. Bone scans came back clear and nodes look good on film...but surgery and final biopsy will tell all.

Arent dogs amazing friends? She got her own steak for dinner that night we found out it was early stage -- at least as far as we know now.


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  • flannelette
    flannelette Member Posts: 984
    edited March 2014

    I'm sorry about the cancer but what a wonderful story about your dog! Dogs' sense of smell is so many hundreds or 1000s of times better than ours - I think the word is getting out that dogs can and do detect cancer - and perhaps other illnesses - before their human. Wishing you well, glad you gave her a steak dinner. Aren't hounds extra renowned for their amazing sniffers?

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  • alisathemom
    alisathemom Member Posts: 9
    edited March 2014

    Yes, basset hounds rank number 2 in the animal world in their  power of smell, after the bloodhound. They are also adorable and gentle little beings :)

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2014

    Hi alisaandjoel (and Snickers too), and welcome to Breastcancer.org.

    We wanted to suggest a couple of other threads that you may find helpful here at BCO:

    March 2014 Surgery is a good place to connect with others at the same point in treatment with you.

    Comfort dogs - the name says it all!

    • The Mods

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited March 2014

    Alisa - So sorry you have to be here. Snickers is amazing! In the Comfort Dogs thread there are a couple of cases where a dog detected cancer in their owners as well. I'm in OKC. Baylor has such a good reputation we have gone there for tricky issues. I know you are in good hands. Hugs to both you and the dog with the long face and sad eyes. (We have beagles and we always ask them "Why the long face?", "Why the sad eyes? :)

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited March 2014

    Hi Alisa, sorry you are joining us but what a cool story. I so love dogs and now another reason to dote on man's and woman's best friend...keep the faith and keep us posted and hugs to your precious baby Snickers. Diane

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  • sydney2013
    sydney2013 Member Posts: 29
    edited March 2014

    I am sorry you have to go through this. It is difficult and overwhelming but as you can see by all the amazing people here, you can do it. I had a bmx in December and I am doing much better than I thought I would be at this point. Be strong and know that there are always people here to help you.

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  • lekker
    lekker Member Posts: 594
    edited March 2014

    There hasn't been much information posted recently, but the Pine Street Foundation has been looking into using dogs to "sniff out" cancer for years.  http://pinestreetfoundation.org/research/canine/

    Very cool!

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  • sgreenarch
    sgreenarch Member Posts: 528
    edited March 2014

    Hi, Alisa, wishing you luck. Happy you have such a wonderful dog. This is big news here in Israel. They are doing a lot of research about it. (couldn't find the link but you can google it. Recently read a big article about it in the paper.)

    Hugs, Shari

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