A woman who claims her dog acting strangely and “jumping on her stomach” alerted her to her ovarian cancer is hailing the pooch as a hero for “saving her life”.
Tess Robison, a 41-year-old hairdresser from South Shields, South Tyneside, said her chihuahua Lola had become "more clingy than usual" and had taken to constantly smelling her breath.
One day, Lola jumped on her stomach, causing quite a bit of pain, Tess told Chronicle Live.
It was just two days later that a lump appeared, which prompted Tess to go to her GP and get checked out.
After seeing her GP, Tess was referred to A&E and in January 2021, she was diagnosed with stage 3 low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC).
Tess said if it wasn't for Lola jumping on her stomach and smelling her breath, her rare form of ovarian cancer may have gone undetected for longer.
"For about ten days in the run-up to Christmas in 2020, Lola just wouldn’t leave me alone and kept smelling my breath at every opportunity,” she said.
"She was just staring at me which was not normal. Someone even asked: 'What's wrong with your dog, why is she just staring at you?'
"I’m convinced she was trying to tell me something, but it was only when she jumped on my tummy that I realised something was wrong.
"Literally two days after she jumped on my stomach, a lump appeared. I thought that's not good, that shouldn't be there so I made an appointment with my doctor.
"I didn't feel unwell I was just bloated and had a bad back. I looked four months pregnant!"
Tess was told there was a mass in her stomach, but as doctors weren't entirely sure what it was, she was sent to Sunderland Royal Hospital - and later the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Tess was shocked to discover her lump was actually stage 3 cancer.
"I spoke to my husband and said they've done tests and unfortunately it's ovarian cancer but I will get through it, I will be absolutely fine,” she said.
"My whole mindset from when I first got my diagnosis was I'm going to beat this."
In March last year, Tess underwent a 12-hour operation to have a full hysterectomy. During the surgery, it became evident that the cancer had spread to Tess' bowel.
Thankfully, recent tests have confirmed that the surgery and subsequent chemotherapy have been successful – but it was still a long road back to health for Tess.
As well as her dog, she extended her thanks to the hospital staff, who she said had been “amazing”.
Now, Tess is living life to the fullest, saying she feels "reborn".
"The only way I can describe it is I feel reborn,” she said. “I never used to go out but now I'm doing everything I ever wanted to do. Life is for living and that's what I'm going to do."
But she said this may not have been possible if it wasn't for Lola who told her, in her own way, that something was wrong.
Tess said: "I owe my life to Lola because she clearly knew something was wrong, and because of her I was able to seek medical help sooner.
"Lola literally saved my life, I'm so grateful for her. If I had left it any longer I may not be here today."
To help her recuperate from her chemotherapy, Tess is having a relaxing and peaceful outside space built at her home, by volunteer landscapers from the charity Band of Builders.
Band of Builders (BoB), is a registered charity that completes practical projects to help members of the UK construction industry who are battling illness or injury.
Friends of Tess told her and her husband Paul, who is a plasterer, about the support offered by BoB and now half a dozen tradespeople are offering their time for free to complete the project.
It will take place on the weekend of March 19 and 20 with the main element of the project a new decked area in the garden so that Tess can sit outside and enjoy the sunshine.
BoB has more than 10,000 supporters from across the construction industry and is backed by major names within the industry who along with local suppliers will donate materials for the project.
This will be the 23rd project to date by the charity. Project lead Kent Taylor said that is another great example of how the construction industry looks after its own.
"The Band of Builders community never ceases to amaze with its ability to rally round and volunteer on projects for fellow tradespeople and their families, working on renovation or repair projects that make a real difference to their lives,” Kent said.
During chemotherapy, Tess lost all her hair and all her confidence drained away, so family friends Chris and Meg Bennett started crowdfunding to buy her a wig made from real hair.
The Bennetts also told the Robisons about the support provided by BoB and after contacting the charity, plans were put in place to help Tess, Paul, and Lola.
For more information or to offer support of any kind, please email info@bandofbuilders.org.
