After discovering a lump, this woman went through a gruelling cancer journey only to discover that her dog also had the same disease. She’s revealed how they both support each other
It’s a cruel twist of fate that few of us can imagine, but now they are more bonded than ever.
Vickie Doogan, 52, was first diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 39, after discovering a lump in her left arm. Thankfully, she responded well to chemotherapy and bounced back after treatment. But at the age of 44, she was diagnosed again and had a double mastectomy to lower the chances of the cancer returning for a third time.
She then decided to get a poochon – a cross between a Bichon Frise and a Miniature Poodle – named Dolly to support her during her recovery. But seven years later, in February 2026, the roles were reversed when Dolly was also diagnosed with breast cancer, after being taken to the vets with an upset stomach.
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Vickie, a recruiter, from Ascot, Berkshire, said: “When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I was absolutely floored. I was 39, fit, healthy, and there was no lump in my breast. Chemo was brutal but thankfully I responded well to it.
“In 2018, when I was diagnosed again, I just couldn’t believe it. I found out I have the altered BRCA2 gene, meaning I’m more predisposed to breast cancer, so I had an elective double mastectomy. The surgery was amazing; I had implants put in the next day.”
She continued: “I got Dolly after my second diagnosis to be my buddy, as I was at home a lot. She’s like my shadow, she’s the most perfect little dog.
“In February 2026, I took Dolly to the vet as she had an upset stomach, and they found a lump under one of her nipples. The vet said she needed to have a mastectomy, I was so shocked, I didn’t even know dogs could have mastectomies.”
Thankfully, Dolly bounced back from her treatment, just as well as her owner had. “People said it’s like she’s mirroring how I dealt with it,” Vickie said. “Now I’m living my best life again, it’s all in my past. I want people to know that although breast cancer is scary, you can still live a really full life.”
Vickie first realised something wasn’t right in November 2013 when she became aware of a dull pain under her arm. At first, she thought the pain could be due to swollen glands under her arm, but after feeling a lump, her intuition told her it was something more.
She went to her GP who referred her to a breast care unit, where she had a biopsy. It showed that she had invasive breast cancer which had migrated to her arm.
The diagnosis shocked Vickie as she was fit and healthy, and there hadn’t been a lump on her breast. She was immediately put on eight rounds of “brutal” chemotherapy, and then had a lumpectomy to remove the remaining bit of cancer.
After 15 rounds of radiotherapy and a year and a half of taking monthly oestrogen blockers, Vickie was delighted to be cancer-free.
She began embracing life again, but following her fifth annual mammogram in 2018, she was shocked to discover that the cancer had returned. As a result, she underwent genetic testing and discovered she has the altered BRCA2 gene, meaning she is more predisposed to breast cancer.
“It made perfect sense to me; I was glad to have some reasoning behind it,” Vickie said. She went back for more chemotherapy, and elected to have a double mastectomy to lower the risk of the cancer returning. The surgery went well and Vickie was able to have reconstruction that same day.
Meanwhile, Dolly had to have a “doggy mastectomy” to remove the cancer, and fortunately, as it was low grade, didn’t need any follow up treatment. The duo are now both cancer-free and living their best lives.
Vickie is one of the people affected by breast cancer in Breast Cancer Now’s new television advert. New figures reveal that there are almost one million people (920,000) living with or beyond a diagnosis of breast cancer in the UK – a figure projected to rise to over 1.4 million by 2050.
The charity has committed to be ‘Breast Cancer Now until we’re Breast Cancer Never’ – in line with its bold ambition that by 2050, everyone with breast cancer will live and live well.
