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Husky kept nudging her owner’s belly — and ended up saving her from ‘silent killer’ disease that doctors dismissed as just a cyst

She described her journey not only in terms of treatment and survival but also through the unwavering support of her four-legged companion.

BY PAHUL NANRA

PUBLISHED 3 HOURS AGO

(L) A woman holding her pet dog's face. (R) A doctor talking to his patient. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Andrii Zorii, (R) MoMo Productions)

Sometimes, the most powerful warnings don’t come from doctors or machines but from those closest to us. For one woman, a silent but unmistakable signal from her beloved pet changed everything. When the woman's furry companion kept nudging her belly, she didn't know it would be an indication of something serious.

Woman playing with a husky | (Image Source: Pexels | Kaboompics.com) — Woman playing with a husky. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Kaboompics.com)

As reported by TODAY, Stephanie Herfel had moved from California to Wisconsin in 2013 when she began experiencing unexpected health changes. Despite no major changes in her lifestyle, she gained 60 pounds and started feeling sharp pain in her abdomen. “It was so bad that my yoga pants even hurt,” said Herfel, then 53, from Madison. A visit to the ER revealed what doctors said was a benign ovarian cyst, and she was sent home with pain medication.

But a few months later, her Siberian Husky, Sierra, started acting strangely, pushing her nose hard into Stephanie’s stomach, then disappearing to hide. “They say dogs don’t cry, but I don’t know if it was fear or what, but the fur all around her eyes was just soaking wet, and she had the biggest eyebrow cringe I’ve ever seen,” she recalled.

A male doctor talking to a female patient. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Momo Productions — A male doctor talking to a female patient. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Momo Productions)

Concerned by Sierra’s behavior, Herfel followed her instincts and got a second opinion. A month later, she was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer, a disease often called the “silent killer” due to its vague and easily missed symptoms. After a 10-hour surgery and being declared cancer-free, Herfel believed she owed her life to her dog. When she told her oncologist about Sierra’s behavior, he didn’t laugh; he researched it. “He said, ‘You know I looked into this ... it's not breed specific, but if dogs can pick up the sense, they are 98% accurate.'" A 2019 study in Experimental Biology supported this, showing dogs could detect cancer with about 97% accuracy.

Siberian husky playing in grass outdoors with the owner girl - Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by NaPeter — Siberian husky playing in grass outdoors with the owner girl. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | NaPeter)

Sierra's gift didn’t stop there. About 18 months later, on a July 4th trip, Sierra hid again. Herfel sensed something was wrong despite reassurances from friends. A scan confirmed the cancer had returned, this time spreading to her liver. Sierra repeated her warning behavior in 2019, and once again, doctors confirmed a recurrence of stage 3 ovarian cancer. Herfel endured radiation and chemotherapy, noting that Sierra refused to kiss or cuddle during radiation treatments, only returning to her affectionate self once chemo began. “It is chillingly wonderful... I’m like, ‘OK, it’s working,’” Herfel said, taking hope from Sierra’s positive change in behavior.

Woman undergoing chemotherapy. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Fat Camera — Woman undergoing chemotherapy. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Fat Camera)

Over six years, Stephanie lived with metastatic and recurring cancer. Yet she described her journey not just in terms of treatment and survival, but through the unwavering support of her four-legged companion. “She just changed from this really sweet pet to one that is a life-saving member of the family that is a little like a human,” Herfel said. She sees herself as Sierra’s spokesperson, determined to raise awareness not only about ovarian cancer, but also about the joy and strength pets can bring during the hardest times. “She’s given me an opportunity at longevity. I understand that this [cancer] is really bad, but I am going to use all the means I can to make my life joyful.”