Prior To Diagnosis~Notice Any Changes In Body Scents??

Believe51 · 03-04-2008, 11:35 AM

This has always been something I tried to explore for an answer, mostly with doctors and Lani. On a previous post Schoolteacher was wondering too. Here is our question:

"Did you notice ANY difference is body odor BEFORE getting diagnosed??"

Example: Ed worked out every night and never had an odor on his clothing or body before the shower. Right before getting diagnosed with cancer his sweat was very 'ammonia-like'.

Schoolteacher had a similar situation and too wonders.

Anyone out there with a story you can share so we can find out some answers to a question we never knew to ask before??>>Believe51

PS: Maybe this could help someone in the future.

Hopeful · 03-04-2008, 11:56 AM

Believe51,

I did not, but I have read that dogs have been known to "smell" cancer - to pick up a scent from a tumor.

Hopeful

MJo · 03-04-2008, 01:40 PM

I don't remember having any new body odors that I noticed.
My survivor friend says that her Jack Russel terrier sniffed at her breast for a while before the diagnosis.
I do remember that the summer before diagnosis I started taking a nap during the day on some, but not all, weekends. I never napped in my life before that, and I haven't napped since. If I start napping again, I'm calling my oncologist.

hutchibk · 03-04-2008, 01:42 PM

This is very interesting, because of what MJo mentioned about dogs being able to sniff and DX cancer in its earliest stages...

Madge · 03-04-2008, 02:22 PM

Don't know if I would have made a connection, but my urine was very amonia-like several months prior to diagnosis. Interesting...

schoolteacher · 03-04-2008, 02:29 PM

Madge,

Now that you mentioned it, my urine also had an ammonia-like smell two or three months prior to me finding my BC. I wondered why I had the smell, and I honestly though I might have a urinary infection.

Amelia

Believe51 · 03-05-2008, 12:37 PM

Doing the bump again. Hoping to get some input from anyone who may have missed this>>Believe51

Colleen007 · 03-05-2008, 12:47 PM

It's hard to say because I was pregnant at the time...any "symptoms" I had, I was attributing to the pregnancy. Once I started chemo, my cats picked up on a different scent...they stick to me like glue after treatment.

StephN · 03-05-2008, 01:08 PM

Don't recall any specific body odors, but it was back in 2000 and I may have forgotten.

My cats noticed "something" about me as well. We had two at the time of my dx, and they are mostly indoors, but one started being more vocal toward me at times and sitting on my lap while I was on the computer.

Don't recall that my daughter's dogs (they live nearby) acted differently as they were always sniffing and jumping on people anyway. Just the kind of breed.

Karen W · 03-05-2008, 02:41 PM

I don't recall an odor, however someone mentioned in an above post that dogs can be sent trained to detect cancer (diabetes, too). I am currently working with a dog trainer who trains dogs to detect when a diabetics sugar level is off. It is truly amazing what these dogs can do.

Karen

alw · 03-06-2008, 10:37 AM

Believe51,

Releasing ammonia in your sweat is caused by burning protein during your exercise instead of carbohydrates. If you are low on carbohydrates, the body dips into the protein reserves, which means your muscles or whatever protein you ate recently, ie amino acids. Ammonia is the by-product of burning off the protein.

I'd be skeptical that it relates to cancer. The ammonia smell is a common topic of discussion among athletes.

Amy

Believe51 · 03-06-2008, 11:03 AM

Hey Amy, the topic is currently being investigated by doctors and Dana Farber, I just thought I could get some feedback here. Ed always sweat during these workouts BUT this came about weeks before getting diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. Hormones may be a culprit but again Dana Farber and our other doctors are studying this mostly with men. Most men with breast cancer (I speak with many) experience this and although we thought that bc was bc there are many differences. We are now treating these cancers different than women now (recently). Just trying to gather any information on my part. There is a piece missing to understanding male bc and I hope I live long enough to see the puzzle completed AND as close to a cure as possible!!

Thanks for the reply and all the support over this last year, we appreciate it Amy.

madubois63 · 03-06-2008, 12:14 PM

"...I hope I live long enough to see the puzzle completed AND as close to a cure as possible!!..."

From your fingertips to God's ear!!! I pray for this every day for all of us...

At times in my life, I have noticed the ammonia smell in my urine, but I can't honestly say if it was before each diagnosis. I CAN tell you that the meds I take now smell worse than eating asparagus..lol...tmi