I’m a veterinary nurse and a Labrador saved my life when he headbutted me and revealed a fast-growing form of breast cancer
- Angie Shaw, 58, of Leeds, west Yorkshire, was headbutted by the Labrador
- But when lump on her chest kept hurting, it was revealed she had cancer
- READ MORE: Rescue cat saves owner’s life by detecting stage 3 breast cancer
A veterinary nurse has credited a Labrador with saving her life after he headbutted her in the chest – and detected a fast-growing breast cancer.
Angie Shaw, 58, of Leeds, west Yorkshire, was knocked by the dog she was treating, causing a lump on her chest.
When the lump was still sore a week later, Angie went to the GP who referred her for scans which revealed she had a fast-growing form of breast cancer.
She then had an operation to remove the tumour – and two years later is now living cancer free after the shock diagnosis.
Angie Shaw, pictured here with her two spaniels, credits the Labrador with saving her life after it highlighted a lump in her breast
Angie said: ‘When we turned [the dog] over, he head butted me by my left breast, towards my breastbone.
‘A decent-sized lump appeared. I left it for a week, but it was sore, so I got a doctor’s appointment the next day.
‘I thought it was a cyst. When I was told that I would have to have surgery, chemotherapy and then radiotherapy my whole world fell apart.
‘But if the pet hadn’t headbutted me, the cancer wouldn’t have shown up for nine to ten months by which point it would have spread.
‘It would have been too late. That pet saved my life.’
The cancer was incredibly fast-growing, increasing by two millimetres in a fortnight.
But without the dog’s intervention, doctors said the tumour would have taken another ten months to be detected due to its position.
They said by this time it would have spread to invasive grade three cancer and would have proved fatal.
The grandmother-of-three then had six rounds of chemotherapy which lasted 18 months.
The treatment caused her to lose her hair and cover up her scalp with a wig.
But her colleagues were extremely supportive.
Angie sough medical treatment when the lump was still sore a week after she was headbutted by the dog
Angie pictured walking her dogs near Beechwood Vets practise in Leeds. She said the Labrador ‘saved her life’
She said: ‘My colleagues were really supportive. That helped massively.
‘I said that I don’t want sympathy or special treatment as I am living with cancer, not dying from it.
‘I will lose my hair so I will be wearing a wig. Tell me if it’s wonky or if the label is showing – but for goodness sake, get any lumps checked.
‘I hate to be the centre of attention, but you swallow your pride.’
Angie has now finished her treatment and is celebrating being cancer free.
But she is encouraging others to check for lumps as an ‘early diagnosis is so important.’
She said: ‘My colleagues were really supportive. That helped massively.
‘I said that I don’t want sympathy or special treatment as I am living with cancer, not dying from it.
‘I will lose my hair so I will be wearing a wig. Tell me if it’s wonky or if the label is showing – but for goodness sake, get any lumps checked.
‘I hate to be the centre of attention, but you swallow your pride.’
Angie, of Leeds, west Yorkshire, qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2011 says she does her best to stay positive (Pictured here with colleague Louise Mallinson)
Angie (pictured with her dogs) says there is still a taboo around breast cancer – but people need to check themselves for lumps
Angie has now finished her treatment and is celebrating being cancer free.
But she is encouraging others to check for lumps as an ‘early diagnosis is so important.’
Angie, who qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2011, added: ‘I thought if I could save one person’s life by encouraging them to get lumps checked, that’s my job done.
‘Breast cancer is almost a taboo subject, but it is nothing to be ashamed of.
‘There’s nothing I have done to cause it. There’s nothing I could have done to prevent it.
‘I am lucky – because we found it in time. I lost some of my hair during the chemotherapy. It is a small price to pay.
‘The doctors are quite happy they have got all the cancer. It shows that early diagnosis is so important.’
Angie added that she had to keep positive following the shock diagnosis and that the cancer changed her life.
She said: ‘I had to keep positive.
‘Everyone thinks a cancer diagnosis is the death warrant.
‘I thought “I have too much to do to let it get in the way of my life”.
‘An experience like that gives you a whole different perspective.
‘You realise how special life is and how quickly it can turn around. I have been given a second chance.
‘You learn to make the most of who and what is important to you.’
Louise Mallinson, the clinical director of Beechwood Vets where Angie works, has described the mum-of-two as an ‘incredibly brave’ person.
She said: ‘The way Angie has tackled her cancer diagnosis and treatment has been absolutely inspirational.
‘She has been incredibly brave, positive and determined in her outlook.
‘Angie is fantastic with both our patients and clients, and we’re very lucky to have her as part of the team.
‘We are all incredibly proud of her and couldn’t be happier that she has been given the all-clear.’
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