How Pets Can Provide Hope for Patients With Bladder Cancer

Cats, dogs and birds may provide us with much-needed hope. We’re all aware that some safety precautions must be taken for a patient having radiation. And obviously, all of this depends on the type of cancer a patient is dealing with.

In a recent study by the American Psychiatric Association, 90% of dog and cat owners believe that their pets have a positive impact on their mental health. Numerous studies show that our pets help reduce the stress hormone, cortisol and increase the hormone oxytocin, which makes us feel calm.

Today, it’s quite common to see support dogs visiting nursing homes, hospitals and pediatric care wards. But I would hasten to add that support animals can also increase a patient with cancer’s well-being. Some children’s hospitals may provide visiting dogs as one way to support the children for whom they care. However, I believe this would be helpful for adults as well. Many of us have pets, and when we have to leave home, it can be quite traumatic for us to find someone to take care of our animal companions.

Just imagine a patient’s delight if that companion could come to visit us at Hope Lodge or some other cancer facility! I know it’s wishful thinking and not possible, but it certainly would give our immune systems a great boost.

I have so many friends and neighbors who care for their pets. Their pets actually become members of the family. They make special arrangements when they are traveling to be sure their companions are well cared for. They take them to the veterinary hospital when their pet has a health concern, and they provide that extra care when they bring their pet home after an operation.

These animals have a special capability of providing unconditional love. That quality of love is something we don’t always receive from our family and friends. Sometimes, when a relationship has a problem, love may go out the window, and it may take some time for forgiveness to restore the relationship. These stressful situations can be especially difficult for a patient with cancer or for a patient’s caregiver.

So, which animal is more popular — dogs or cats? The overwhelming answer is dogs! But cats are a close second to dogs. I believe the reason that dogs are so popular is because of their loyalty. That loyal relationship is a source of protection for the owner. If a dog senses any distress in their owner’s relationship with someone else, he or she may defend their owner with a ferocious bark, or they may even attack. Some cats may attack as well if they sense danger. However, a dog will usually fight to the very end. A strong bond and great affection develop between a dog and his or her owner. To someone else, the bond between pet and owner can be clearly observed. These special traits are reinforced in the PBS television series, “All Creatures Great and Small.” I personally came to learn more about dogs when I befriended my neighbor. She professionally bred and showed Rhodesian ridgebacks and had the United States championship. These ridgebacks were magnificent creatures and very affectionate. My neighbor also had cats, and the ridgebacks got along very well with them. They were very comfortable together. That surprised me! Even though they were very muscular, they had a gentle disposition and were fiercely loyal and protective. I was amazed by how attentive they were to their trainer, as well as the skills they possessed.

Guide dogs are trained to assist the blind. Special dogs are trained to assist diabetic patients with their glucose levels and can sense when they need assistance. Dogs can provide great assistance to handicapped individuals. Service dogs can be very helpful to the deaf and hearing impaired. Dogs also help the police in searching for drugs, weapons or chemicals.

I have a friend who sends me video clips from time to time, showing how these gifted dogs are trained to help us in our everyday lives. One clip he sent was of a dog holding on to a bassinet and rocking a baby. The dog stays with the baby the entire time, and the mother would come to check on the child from time to time. When the bassinet stopped rocking, the dog would push it to keep it going. The dog diligently watched to see that the baby was resting comfortably. I was amazed at the skill of the dog.

While standing in line during a recent trip to the grocery store, I began to browse the magazine stand and noticed that National Geographic had published a special edition entitled “The Secret Life of Cats: Out of the World and Into Our Homes.” This issue also reinforced the point that cats can help us through illness and difficult times in our lives. Dogs and cats provide us with profound companionship during these difficulties.

When our loving companions grow old and become frail, one of the hardest things we have to do is to let them go. Recently, a friend of ours had an elderly dog, and she did everything she could to provide comfort and support for the dog. She even used diapers on the dog and had to change them constantly. She didn’t want to let go. I told her that usually, a pet will find a way to let us know when it is time. The pet will sense it and pass it on to us. Finally, she realized there was nothing else that could be done and knew the time had come for her to say goodbye. As a pet owner, this is the hardest thing to do. Yet we know it’s also the most loving thing we can do for our companion. Losing a pet can almost be like losing a child. The grief is so deep and painful.

Some people don’t understand the sense of loss someone suffers when their pet dies, and they may brush it off as insignificant or unimportant. They may think to themselves, “Just go out and get another animal.” But those of us who have personally experienced this understand this deep loss and the grief process that accompanies it.

Personally, I’ve experienced this loss twice. The first time was when I had a 15-year-old Himalayan cat who had cancer. We even took our cat to Cornell University Veterinary Hospital for a CT scan, which confirmed the diagnosis. After we lost that cat, we waited several years before getting another cat because it took so long for us to recover from the grief we experienced from that loss. Later, we went through the same thing with a 15-year-old Bengal cat who no longer had the strength to stand. We slept with him the night before we took him to the veterinary hospital. When we left the vet hospital and arrived home, a kind and considerate friend of mine was waiting for us. He’d made a wooden casket for our cat. We buried him under a crab apple tree and planted lilies over his grave.

When we entered the house, only a dead silence greeted us. No longer was our little one there to leap into our arms. The house had an eerie feeling, and it was shocking how an animal that was so quiet and barely meowed could overwhelm us with such quietude and sadness. It was clearly evident that a presence was missing in the house, and we felt it deeply as tears streamed down our faces.

After losing two companions, we felt that the pain of losing a pet was too unbearable, and so, we decided we would not get another cat. Some individuals are able to find another animal with whom they can quickly bond. It was not so for us. I have a friend who was able to bond with another animal through the assistance of their veterinarian. But for us, we thought it would cause too much agony if one of us died and the other would have to euthanize our cat alone. Neither of us wanted to leave that responsibility for the remaining survivor in our family.

When I was diagnosed with bladder cancer and had surgery, my cat was by my side in the bed all the time when I got home from the hospital. He was a constant companion and friend. He learned how to sleep without interfering with my urinary catheter. Our companions are smart and can figure out things when we talk to them. It brought me such comfort to know he was by my side. I think cats have a special sense and know when we need compassion, and they provide that special ingredient for our well-being. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been assisted by their pet when they were undergoing some form of cancer treatment.

Certainly, there are many people who can share their own stories of how the dog or cat in their lives provided the love and support that carried them through their cancer journey and helped in their recovery!

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