Speaking of Pets and Cancer...

When we are diagnosed with lung cancer, or any cancer for that matter, a lot of serious questions bombard our brains. Am I going to die? Why did this happen to me? Who will care for me? Will my insurance cover all of my new medical expenses? Can I continue working? Will my friends and family support me, or desert me? And so many more questions arise. But one question that may not occur to folks, especially those on the outside looking in, is what effect will this have on my care for and relationship with my pet(s).

Pets Are Part of the Family

Our dogs and cats, bunnies and birds, fall into that "take for granted" category in many respects. They join our families and live with us, often for many years. They become just a routine part of everyday life. But when major illness strikes, they are, indeed, impacted. We may be too ill to walk the dogs or clean the cat's litter box. The smell of their food may make us queasy because of the ongoing side effects of harsh drug treatments we are receiving. Maybe, we are just sad and lethargic and pretty much oblivious to the world around us for a while, even though our pets continue to need love and attention.

On the other hand, at just the time we may find it difficult or even impossible to care for our beloved pet, they sometimes inherently understand what is happening and act in ways that are more than caring. They become little nurses and guardians. (https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/02/power-pets)

My Pets Help Me & We Help Others Together

Some years back, my Golden Retriever, Aspen, and I were weekly volunteers in a large medical center's "Top Dog" program. They understood the value of pet therapy and built it into their recreational therapy department. Each Saturday, I would tie a pink bandana around her neck, attach her picture badge to her collar, and head off to see very ill patients and their families who were visiting. Aspen didn't only cheer people up through her visits, she allowed patients to physically use their arms and hands to pet her. She allowed them to smile and relieve physical and emotional stress. Aspen was not only a goodwill ambassador, she was a nursing assistant.

More recently, my American Cocker Spaniel, Bella, always curled up on top of the comforter on my bed before settling into a comfortable sleep each night. After I was diagnosed with lung cancer and began my first series of chemotherapy treatments, something changed. Was it something she sensed through smell, or through a slight change in my behavior or breathing patterns? In any event, during that series of chemotherapy treatments, and only during that 5-month period, Bella would wait until I got into bed and turned the light off to ever-so-gently walk up to the top of the comforter and ease her way under the covers to snuggle up tight against me to sleep for the night. It was as though she was doing what only a beloved pet could do in this way. It was a perfect form of emotional and even spiritual sustenance for my ailing body and soul at just the time I needed it most.

When I completed the chemotherapy treatments and some of the physical side effects that had troubled me during the period went away, Bella returned to her previous habit of sleeping on top of the comforter. She remained my faithful companion until her death from complications of pancreatic cancer surgery in 2014. Our pets most definitely play an important role in our journeys through cancer and the challenges it brings. What part has your pet played in your cancer story?

Editor's Note: We are extremely saddened to say that on June 8, 2019, Karen Loss passed away. Karen was a valued member of the lung cancer community and an incredible advocate and avid writer. She will be deeply missed.