DOG credited for discovering woman’s breast cancer
THE DETAILS …
Dog’s Remarkable Detection: Breanna Bortner’s Cancer Diagnosis
In an extraordinary case of canine intuition, Breanna Bortner, a 31-year-old entrepreneur from Minnesota, credits her cockapoo, Mochi, with detecting her breast cancer before medical confirmation. Days before her diagnosis in June 2023, Mochi exhibited unusual behavior, persistently sniffing and pawing at Bortner’s right breast, where a 1.5-inch lump was later discovered. This behavior was mirrored by her sister-in-law’s cockapoo, Gunner, adding a unique twist to the story as two dogs independently signaled the same alarming health issue. Bortner, already awaiting scan results due to prior fatigue and a self-discovered lump, found the dogs’ actions to be a critical wake-up call, prompting her to pursue immediate medical attention. Her diagnosis of stage 2B triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer, underscored the urgency of early detection, potentially saving her life.
Scientific Insight into Canine Cancer Detection
The article highlights the scientific basis behind such remarkable canine behavior, emphasizing the dogs’ exceptional olfactory capabilities, which are estimated to be 10,000 to 100,000 times more powerful than humans’. This allows certain breeds, like Mochi—a mix of poodle and cocker spaniel, both known for their hunting-bred keen senses—to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by malignant cells, even in the cancer’s earliest, non-metastatic stages. This phenomenon is not isolated to Bortner’s case; the article references broader research and anecdotal evidence of dogs detecting various cancers, such as lung and prostate, by sniffing breath or urine samples. Unlike other stories, Bortner’s experience is distinctive due to the dual confirmation by two unrelated dogs, reinforcing the potential for canine detection as a complementary diagnostic tool, though not yet a replacement for medical testing, as ongoing research continues to explore its reliability and application.
(see more details below)
Treatment and Advocacy: Bortner’s Ongoing Journey
Following her diagnosis, Bortner faced a grueling treatment regimen, undergoing over a dozen rounds of chemotherapy and a mastectomy, treatments necessitated by the aggressive nature of her cancer, which has a survival rate that plummets from nearly 100 percent in early stages to as low as 31 percent if it spreads. Unique to her story is her proactive advocacy through her blog, Brave Beautiful Boobies, where she shares her journey to support others, emphasizing the psychological boost from interventions like cold capping, which helped her retain her hair during chemotherapy. The article notes her determination to control her narrative, a key detail distinguishing her case, as she plans to establish a nonprofit to advocate for better treatment options, such as making cold capping more accessible, given its current lack of insurance coverage. Bortner’s story, published on March 12, 2025, underscores not only the life-saving potential of canine detection but also her resolve to transform personal adversity into broader positive impact, setting her apart in the narrative of cancer survival.