Woman’s cancer battle takes unbelievable turn when her dog gets same diagnosis

A woman who got a dog to support her through abreast cancer diagnosiswas later shocked when the pet was diagnosed with the same disease years later.

Vickie Doogan, 52, from England, said her dog Dolly, a poochon, became her constant companion during recovery from hersecond cancer diagnosis, news agency SWNS reported.

Doogan was first diagnosed with breast cancer at age 39 after noticing a dull pain and a lump under her arm, which doctors later confirmed was invasive breast cancer that had spread.

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She underwent chemotherapy, surgery and radiation and was eventually declared cancer-free following an intensive course of treatment.

Doogan is pictured with her dog Dolly, who stayed by her side throughout her recovery from a second cancer diagnosis.(SWNS)

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At 44, she was diagnosed again and underwent another round of treatment before opting for a double mastectomy after learning she carried a BRCA2 gene mutation, which increases the risk of breast cancer.

She got Dolly in 2018 while recovering at home, saying the dog provided comfort and companionship during a difficult period in her life.

Dolly to the vetfor what she believed was an upset stomach, where a lump was unexpectedly discovered under one of the dog’s nipples.

Doogan and her dog Dolly (pictured), with the dog later diagnosed with a lump after a February 2026 check-up.(SWNS)

“The vet said she needed to have a mastectomy.I was so shocked,” Doogan said.“I didn’t even know dogs could have mastectomies.”

Dolly underwent surgeryto remove the cancer, which was determined to be low-grade and did not require additional treatment, allowing her to recover relatively quickly.

“She bounced back just as well as I did,” Doogan said.“People said it’s like she’s mirroring how I dealt with it.”

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Doogan and Dolly (pictured), both of whom recovered quickly following their surgeries.(SWNS)

Both Doogan and her dog are now cancer-free and focusing on moving forward after their shared experiences with the disease, SWNS noted.

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Doogan said she hopes their story offers encouragement to othersfacing a diagnosisand shows that recovery is possible.

“When I was first diagnosed, I was absolutely floored,” she said.“Chemo was brutal, but thankfully I responded well.”

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“Now I’m living my best life again,” she added.“I want people to know that although breast cancer is scary, you can still live a really full life.”