Dogs and chemo: Calling all dog-lovers!

Good to read about the dogs, and also see that most docs aren't worried about us interacting with the dogs during chemo.

We have two young Cocker Spaniels (one rescue), and they are a great comfort during all of this.  Here's a pic of them cavorting in their first ever snow storm this past winter:

And as a note, my MO never said anything about manicures or pedicures, so I had both all during treatment and never had any troubles!  Even once, when one of my toenails was coming off, they "fixed" it for me so I could continue to wear my flip flops!  I'm assuming they understood my situation because I had NO hair, because it seems they took extra precautions! 

I am not one who goes for mani/pedis or has fake nails but I was emphatically told not to have either or IF I felt I HAD TO HAVE them to take my own tools and make them use mine only on me.  I have gone for a mani/pedi a few times in my life long before any health issues and those few times I always took my own set and an extra set I knew had been steralized for any friend who also went with me.  Unfortunately though there are laws and occasional inspection - unfortunately not all places are diligent about following even minor sanitation practices.

2 months post final chemo and it never occurred to me to take any special precautions.  My dogs have been a lifeline for me.  They even brought a therapy dog to visit me during one of my infusions.  I did not have any problems as a result but perhaps I was just lucky.  

We were recently approved at my local golden retriever rescue. Although there are over 40 families on a waiting list and the

foster family picks the family so it could be a long time.

Warrior mentioned therapy dog's. I started seeing a therapist after my surgery because I felt pretty depressed. She has a German Shepard dog that hangs out in the office named Raven. Raven is a therapy dog. I spend more time talking to and petting the dog when I go for therapy. At first I thought I was just paying a 20 dollar copy to go visit a dog....but I think my therapist is smarter than I gave her credit for!

She asks the dog questions about me like, "Raven, what do we think of Jen?" Even though the dog has already met me. I don't cry in front of people if I can avoid it. I noticed at my last session that when I started to feel like I might cry, the dog got up and came over to me before I could change the subject.

I think the dog is throwing hints to my therapist about how I really feel about certain things!

yensmiles - Toby is a beautiful dog.

My chemo is going fine - half way through 4 cycles of TC.  The dogs continue to provide comfort, and motivation to get a little exercise.

You guys are the best! I'm a big time fig lover and one who gets really ticked when people pay a lot if $ for a dog and there are so many in need of a good home in the shelters. I know when I go there I want to take all of them home and if I had the $ I def would! Not so much a cat lover but feel for them too. People who abuse animals have a special place in hell. 

Diane 

Yensmiles, I could NOT stand to wear my wig, only wore it for an hour or two at a time for
special occasions or church!  Otherwise, I just wore a cap and it was quite clear under that cap that I was bald!  I just decided to be comfortable and not worry about what others thought!  And when I would get a mani/pedi, I go to the same place everytime, and I just think they knew because they really wouldn’t even put someone in the chair right next to me!  They were really great!  The only time I had someone sit next to me, was if I brought them with me, and in fact one time, my sister in law took longer picking out her color and when she came to sit next to me they were quick to tell her “no no, you sit in next chair”  lol! So I had to tell them she was with me!

As for my immune system, not so much, I think it was strong because of the mega doses of steroids they gave me with each infusion!  I had just decided that I was going to do everything as normal as my tired self would let me!  I never even wore a mask in public, I’m too claustrophobic! I was very lucky!!

And I never even gave a second thought to being around my animals!  We even have friends with horses and I was around them also!

All, I do not have cancer but have had a number of breast issues and biopsies and am being watched (hence lurking on the site). I wanted to chime in with a related story, however the situation is reversed. Last July my 12 year old ridgeback/shepherd mix rescue was diagnosed with lung cancer. He underwent the surgery and chemo (carboplatin) and is now 13 and 10 months out of treatment. He is doing fantastic. I know he was comforted by my being there just as we are with them. Dogs are amazing healers and great parts of the family.

I love the dog threads. That is my girl Spookie in my avatar. Pic was taken on her 3rd birthday, just back from groomer. When my MO told me my hair WOULD fall out, I laughed and said I'd get hers trimmed and make a wig from it so we'd match. 

She was an only dog, but small enough for me to pick up. All that hair requires care, there were times I just couldn't do it. So off to the groomer. Who happened to be fostering a min. Poodle  When I picked her up, I saw him, 3 days later he had a furever home. So there I was with 2 energetic dogs, in the middle of chemo! But they gave me a reason to get up and move a bit. They both would snuggle with me, they knew when I really felt crummy

The only time I was told to avoid them was after I had radioactive tests. 

Hi Netti

Kuhnkl,

I hope it never happens but if you do need care, I hope it's a furry friend that returns the favor!