About a year ago my Labrador specifically leaned over while we were sitting next to each other and licked the corner of my right breast. She repeated this and looked at me. It startled me and I did not understand. Then I was diagnosed with Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. And I understood her actions.
The following winter, the exact same thing happened. She leaned over, across my chest to reach my left breast and licked the top of it, and looked at me. It totally scared me. Recently prior to that, I had an MRI that came out perfect so I was really shocked. She repeated her behavior, and I told her "No, Hailey". I looked to see if perhaps I had food on my shirt to cause this to happen - I did not. I pushed her away because she would not stop. About four months later I was diagnosed in that exact spot with Invasive HER-2 cancer. She had tried to protect me, and I discounted her.
We have been together for some 13 years. She is a master hunter, and we have been joined at the hip. I did not listen to her, she tried to tell me, and I did not listen. After suffering a large seizure this last week, I had to put her down. I am devastated - this beautiful creature, intelligent and giving could not make me listen, if I had, we might have caught it before it became invasive. She tried.
Barbara
