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Dog Sniffs Out Cancer, Saves Owner's Life
5 Mar
Summary
- Dog's persistent sniffing of owner's breath led to cancer diagnosis.
- A golf ball-sized tumor in the left lung was detected early.
- Early detection allowed for surgery, avoiding further treatment.
Inca, a German Shepherd, displayed persistent sniffing of her owner Colleen Ferguson's breath, a behavior that ultimately led to the discovery of stage one lung cancer.
Initially, Colleen, 70, dismissed Inca's behavior, attributing it to her gluten intolerance. However, the dog's unwavering focus on her mouth prompted Colleen to undergo further medical tests.
Months later, a full body scan revealed a golf ball-sized tumor in Colleen's left lung. Doctors confirmed it was stage one cancer, a diagnosis that shocked Colleen, a non-smoker and former biology teacher.
Fortunately, surgery in June 2015 removed the tumor without the need for additional treatment. Colleen, who was nearing 60 at the time and experiencing fatigue she attributed to her age, now cherishes each day.
Inca, now 13, has also been trained as a recovery assistance dog, providing support for Colleen's anxiety and panic attacks that emerged after her health ordeal. Colleen emphasizes the importance of listening to dogs, as they often provide subtle signals.
She credits Inca with saving her life, expressing gratitude for the early detection and avoiding more intensive treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
