A woman in Pennsylvania believes her dog helped find her dangerous breast cancer before she even knew something was wrong. Breanna Bortner, 31, noticed her cockapoo, Mochi, acting weird in June 2023. Mochi, who usually cuddles with her, started sniffing and pawing at Breanna’s right breast a lot. Her sister-in-law’s dog, Gunner, did the same thing, which worried Breanna even more.
Breanna felt very tired for a year but didn’t think it was anything serious. One day, while scratching a mosquito bite on her breast, she found a lump. Remembering stories about dogs smelling cancer, she got worried about Mochi’s strange behavior. Breanna decided to see a doctor, and soon after, she was diagnosed with stage 2B triple-negative breast cancer—an aggressive type that is hard to treat.
“That’s how fast and aggressive this cancer is,” Breanna said. “In just three months, my lump went from undetectable to a physical lump.”
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women in the U.S., affecting about one in eight. Early detection improves chances of survival significantly—89% if found early, but only 31% if it spreads.
Breanna had 16 rounds of chemotherapy followed by a double mastectomy. She believes Mochi’s amazing sense of smell helped catch her cancer in time. “We really underestimate how smart dogs are,” she said.
Studies show dogs can detect cancer. One study from 2019 found that trained dogs could spot cancer in blood samples with 97% accuracy. Dogs have also helped find different types of cancer.
Mochi was by Breanna’s side not just as an early warning buddy but also as emotional support during her treatment. He comforted her when she was sad. Last spring, Breanna got the news she was cancer-free. Mochi was there to celebrate!
Now, Breanna is focused on recovering, having scans every three months to check for any return of cancer. Mochi has developed separation anxiety since he’s used to being with her all the time. They are working through this challenge with the help of a trainer.
Breanna’s story shows how amazing dogs can be and how technology can help with early cancer detection. Recently, a woman on TikTok shared how her smart ring helped her find early signs of lymphoma by tracking her body temperature.
