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Smelling cancer!
Did anyone smell their cancer before diagnosis? For months I kept smelling a strong ammonia-type smell and would have prickly heat waking me in the middle of the night as well as my breast swelling. I'd ask family members if they could smell anything on me and they did not. I drank more water, changed my eating habits, but nothing stopped it. After my first lumpectomy, most of the smell had gone. After the second lumpectomy/partial mastectomy, it was completely gone. Now, 2 1/2 months post-surgery, I am starting to smell that smell again and getting quite concerned that maybe cancer is coming back somewhere. I have 9 more radiation treatments to go and finished my TC chemo in October, but was chemo resistant.
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I had originally posted to this comment saying I also smelled the ammonia smell before I was diagnosed. The smell did go away for a few years since, but I started smelling it a few months ago. My Drs give me no indication that cancer has returned but I'm on high alert because of this smell.
Hows the ammonia smell going for you now?
Strange I know, my coffee began to smell like cat pee. Once I sipped it, it smelled like coffee. Today, my Swiss cheese smelled of bleach. Lots of smells and tastes are off. Follow your gut. Self advocate! Best wishes.
Oddly I began to smell left armpit. Body odor from sweat. Right armpit had no smell. Left had cancer. Lots of other smells and tastes have been off. Self Advocate! Best wishes!
i didn't smell my cancer but that doesn't mean you don't.
dogs can smell many different types of cancer in humans so i would think that people who have a keen sense of smell especially of their own body could smell cancer too.
talk to your doctors about your concerns
I have been smelling a strong odor that nobody else can intermittently smell for approximately a year and a half. I’ve told my doctor and was told it’s a neurological condition that I was smelling a phantom odor. This week I was informed I have kidney cancer.
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2 ReactionsHi! @dv1
I am so sorry for all that's been happening to you in the past 1.5 year! How we all wish that your care team would have listened and respected your observation and senses much earlier!
How did they finally realize that there are cancerous cells in your kidney? Is there any treatment plan yet? My prayers shall be with you, my friend...
Thank you, I had some Gastro issues and a CT scan of my abdomen revealed the kidney cancer. I am scheduled for a nephrectomy; partial kidney removal.
Oh! @dv1:
My heart goes out to you for all your sufferings! Thanks for replying and sharing your experience to help us on this journey together!
My prayers shall be with you, my friend... Pray for a successful surgery and speedy & full recovery!
@trixie1313
Have you noticed any dogs or cats coming up to your face and sniffing?
An old trick is to take a spoon, lick it, let it quickly dry and smell it.
See if theres a strange oder or the ammonia smell.
Hi! Sorry I know it’s been a while. Yes I smelled my breast cancer. It developed whilst i was pregnant with my daughter. I breastfed her for 1 years and would wear breast pads to keep my nipples warm (reynauds). I noticed about 4 years ago that the sweat under my breasts that was absorbed into the reusable breast pads smelled remarkably different. What I know now as The non cancerous breast sweat smelled sweet and the cancerous breast smelled bad .. sour, like a dead smell. My son (7) could smell it too. I’ve a nose like a bloodhound, as does he. Always noticing things others not even realise - electrical fires, issues in the house and with our pets. I can smell infections too. So you are definitely not alone.
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