This may sound like a weird question but ……….I had a double mastectomy with the removal of 7 lymph nodes removed. I am almost finished immunotherapy in May. I was thinking a companion in the form of a cat, would I be compromising my immune system by getting a cat and what would the likelihood of getting lymphoedema if I was scratched or bitten by the cat?
Hi Natty75
Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to the online community.
I can see you have joined our BRCA positive forum. I hope your finding it helpful to share your experiences with others.
My name is Paula and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.
It’s good to hear you’ve almost finished your immunotherapy treatment. I hope you’re tolerating it well with minimal side-effects.
Here at Macmillan, we can give general advice and support. We are independent from the NHS and don’t have access to medical records so cannot give personalised information.
What a lovely idea considering getting a cat and it’s not a weird question at all. Pets can provide emotional support for many people and in some studies have shown to improve wellbeing and reduce stress and anxiety.
However, cats can have the potential to pose risks especially if you have a compromised immune system. I know it can be difficult when you have a playful cat, to avoid scratches and bites, as breaks in the skin can cause infections and possibly lymphoedema. You would also need to consider pet care if you need to be admitted to hospital for any reason.
It's essential to be cautious when getting a new pet and to make sure it’s from a reputable source and they are vaccinated and chipped. There are many cat charities out there who offer a adopt or rehome service.
I don’t want this information to put you off getting a cat, as they can be good company to be around and have great personalities. We would suggest speaking to your team first about when is the best time to get a cat. They may suggest waiting until you finish treatment first.
You may find the Breast Cancer Forum helpful for pet advice.
You can always give us a call. You can talk to one of our nurses on the support line. It’s a free phone number on 0808 808 0000 and we are here 7 days a week, 8am-8pm or email us.
I hope you found this information helpful.
Best wishes
Ref: PW/AC
