Jane, also known as jane2511 , was diagnosed with Stage 1b endometrial carcinoma sarcoma – a rare type of womb cancer in April 2022. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy, completing active treatment 6 months later. She became a Community Champion for Macmillan in March 2023 to support others who are facing similar experiences.
When having treatment, Jane tells us how her beloved cats supported her at home. If you are an animal lover, you may have worries about looking after them whilst you are not home. You are not alone as Jane tells us her story.
In March 2022 I became unwell and had to go to hospital. One of my first concerns, when the A+E doctor suggested admitting me overnight, was I can’t. I have cats at home. Not 1, not 2 but 3.
For most people without pets, this would seem to be a rather silly thing but to a pet owner, it is a great worry. I had been at the hospital for almost 8 hours, I had my house keys with me. They had not been fed- anyone with cats will understand! I negotiated with the doctor that I would go home that night and return first thing in the morning. I returned to 3 vocal and grumpy cats who let me know how they felt about the delays in their routine.
"After my cancer diagnosis, my cats were a great source of comfort. They seemed to sense something was wrong and one in particular would be at my side pretty much all day and night."
He started to sleep at the end of my bed and would check on me if I woke. Patting my face very gently with his paw as if to ask, “are you ok?” After my surgery they kept me company in the early days by snuggling up on the sofa with me, probably also enjoying the change in routine and having me home all day.
"Instead of the normal rough and tumble games and midnight zoomies, they showed a new gentleness towards me."
When my chemo started, I struggled with some of the side effects, especially in the first cycle. Days and nights blurred into one. I spent the first few days of each cycle, back and forth from the bathroom to the bedroom to the lounge. Even with people around and supporting you, it can make you feel very alone when it’s 3 am and you are sat on the loo being sick into a bowl and wondering whether it is worth trying to walk back to the bedroom or just lie on the bathroom floor. One night I tried to stand up and walk back to bed but could only manage to crawl the short distance. I became aware of 4 little paws walking alongside me that night. He walked beside me and slept next to me. He knew I was ill.
"I felt ready to give up that night. Their constant presence meant I didn’t."
With chemo came the hair loss- not all of it- but enough to make you feel very low and aware of how unwell you looked. The rashes, the redness and blotchy face, bloated by the chemo drugs and shuffling around due to pain in my hips and back. Spaced out from the high doses of steroids and the painkillers that didn’t really work, I felt I aged 10 years during chemo.
"They did not care. I was still their missus and they loved me the same."
Having responsibility for them helped on those days when I felt I could not get up and I just couldn’t continue but they needed me, they needed feeding, they needed me to shop for them, they needed love and attention. We went through it together. They sensed it all, of that I am sure. I made arrangements for them should the worst happen. I made arrangements should I need to go into the hospital again.
I found the Animals are Family forum one day and joined it. People like me who had cancer but got such great joy and comfort from their pets. The common thread was they understood what a difference pets made during their cancer journey. People who like me knew that their pets understood.
Thank you Jane, and your furry friends, Kelsey, Lil, and Klaus for sharing your story with us. If you are like Jane and have pets that have supported your wellbeing during your cancer treatment, we’d love to hear from you. Use the Comment box below to tell us about your pets or join the Animals are family too forum and start a discussion.
