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 sure will! Just not sure when I'll be back to exercising. Lol
Hi Veenu.,
Totally agree, I will share my experience. I was diagnosed with stage 2 almost slipping into stage 3 ductal carcinoma in 2003. I had leaking from my nipple and an indention in an area where my cancer was located. Ding Dong OBGY Dr , when she examined me told me the indention was prob due to the fact I had an injury there ( banged into a corner table when I was a teenager. I bruised this area and this is why I had an indention.
Hello, I switched OBGY Dr ASP . After my needle biopsy I was treated by a more experience oncologist. About a year before my diagnosis. my King Charles spaniel would sleep next to my side where my cancer was located. In the middle of the night she would lick my the area by my breast above my very thin nightgown. I believed she must have either smelled the cancer. I don't know if this can be proven yet as you mention after my surgery she not longer had the need to lick the area where my cancer was located. Animals are wonderful. I can't live without them. They never think you are crazy or are they judgmental. She began to sleep by my feet after my surgery ..... so yes only in my opinion and others perhaps on the site , dogs can communicate with you to alert and warn a person. Sadly we often failed to pay attention. Don't be so hard on yourself as each day is a gift. Surround yourself if you are able to with positive people. Sadly people are so fearful and react weird way when we are sick. At first I was very angry and then came to realize everyone walks the walk at some time in their life. They will remember people as ourselves. Find the beauty of each day in Nature. flowers. walks, listening to birds out side, waterfalls, its healing but most of all be gentle on yourself. I finally told my husband I don't need a fan club or pity party f rom anyone. I just need my family and a handful of very understand and compassionate friends.
God Bless.
Hi!
I’ve searched for similar experiences! For approximately a year before I was diagnosed with left breast tumor, I’ve smelled unpleasant odor, onion-like smell, at my left palm, that use to woke me in the middle of the night. No soap nor disinfection could remove that smell. Two months ago tumor showed up and was removed. PH report revealed LIN which is considered as a benign tumor from last classification. Immediately after the surgery, the smell disappeared. I am a radiation oncologist dealing with breast cancer for more than 20 years. None of my patients have ever reported nothing similar to me.
Thank you for sharing!
I have been wondering about cancer odor lately. My husband died of cancer one year ago. He had an strong distinct odor. After his death I moved to California to be with my Sons, and about a month or so after, I began to smell that same distinct smell. It lasted for a couple of days and went away. It's been 9 months since I smelled it, but now it's back. I have been smelling it for the last couple of days. It doesn't smell like ammonia though. I can't describe it, but it's the exact smell my husband had. I thought it may be my breath, but I thoroughly brushed my teeth and used mouth wash, and it's still there. It seems to be in my nose. I feel like if I brought it up to my doctor, she would think me a hypochondriac. I have an appointment in a couple of months. I will probably bring it up at that time. I just wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience.
I have had similar concerns to the point where I am using a lime as my deodorant. I had a lumpectomy in Nov 22 but my smelly arm pits were a problem months before the surgery. In my investigation, I did come across an article about the things no one tells you about menopause and your personal smell can change. I have chalked my smell to this phenomenon. Look into all the effects of menopause and it might ease your fear until you see your doctor (definitely ask your doctor about it)
Thank you, that article you mentioned sounds interesting. I have noticed little changes this year. I am definitely going to speak with my doctor.
For me, (left armpit only, even while showering, but really strong after sleeping) like fresh cat spray (pee), with an undertone of the smell handling raw onions leaves on my hands. Other warning signs were periodic sharp pains in left breast and rapid weight loss.
During chemo my pits smelled like a dumpster. We must all excrete whatever toxic stuff is in us. Post-chemo, that odor fading fast.
Ohhhhh my gosh…earwax! I noticed a big difference in earwax in just one ear, but I cannot remember if it was on my breast cancer side or not, or if it was before or after my surgery. It was much darker and there was more of it. Now that I’m done with surgery, chemo, and radiation, it seems normal again. I never, ever would have thought to relate that to cancer, but now I wonder…
I would take those smells seriously and get it looked into. I am not sure my sense of smell is the same after having Covid twice, but I definitely had noticed my mom to have a strange smell before she got diagnosed. I wrote it of as different laundry detergent or something but it definitely did not turn out to be that. I also could smell that my cat smelled different when she had cancer. Cats don't usually have a smell that I can distinguish. I can also smell that my husband smells different now and then during his cancer treatment -- I would like you to know, though, that in that case it was never because the cancer had come back. I think it was just from the treatments changing his body chemistry.