She and Her Dog Both Beat Breast Cancer: A BRCA2 Carrier’s Story of Hope and Healing

Vickie Doogan, 52, and her dog, Dolly, share a bond forged through love, recovery and a diagnosis neither of them expected to have in common. The England woman and her poochon became extremely close when Doogan received her second cancer diagnosis — and their connection deepened further when Dolly faced a startlingly similar fight of her own.

Doogan was first diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at age 39 after experiencing a dull pain and discovering a lump under her arm. Doctors told her the cancer had spread. She underwent chemotherapy, surgery and radiation before being told she was cancer free.

“I was the fittest and healthiest I’d ever been, and I was really looking forward to turning 40,” Doogan recalled to SWNS.

Vickie received a 2nd breast cancer diagnosis and carried BRCA2 mutation

Doogan’s world flipped upside down when she was diagnosed with cancer a second time at age 44 and began treatment. She ultimately underwent a double mastectomy after finding out she was a carrier of the BRCA2 gene mutation.

According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, BRCA2 is a gene that, when mutated, can increase a person’s lifetime risk of breast and other cancers, including ovarian, prostate and pancreatic. Most breast cancers arising from a BRCA2 gene mutation are estrogen receptor (ER)-positive/HER2-negative.

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Dolly became Vickie’s constant companion

Amid her recovery, Doogan got Dolly — a poochon — in 2018. The two have been connected ever since.

“She’s like my shadow,” Doogan said. “She’s the most perfect little dog.”

Then, in February 2026, Doogan noticed Dolly had an upset stomach and took her to the vet to make sure everything was OK. During the exam, the doctor found a lump under one of Dolly’s nipples and said she needed a mastectomy. Doogan was rather shocked to hear the news.

“I was so shocked, I didn’t even know dogs could have mastectomies,” Doogan said.

Doctors said Dolly had a “low-grade” cancer. She underwent the surgery and recovered.

Both Vickie and Dolly are cancer-free now

Now, both Doogan and her dog are cancer-free.

“She bounced back just as well as I did. People said it’s like she’s mirroring how I dealt with it,” Doogan said.

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“Now I’m living my best life again. It’s all in my past,” she added. “I want people to know that although breast cancer is scary, you can still live a really full life.”

What to know about mammary tumors in dogs

Mammary tumors in dogs develop from abnormal cell replication in breast tissue and can be benign or malignant, according to Atlantic Coast New York Veterinary Specialists. The condition affects approximately 25 percent of unspayed female dogs. Females spayed before their first heat cycle reduce that risk to 0.05 percent. Those spayed after the first heat but before the second face a risk of approximately 8 percent.

Half of mammary tumors found in dogs are benign. Of those that are malignant, most can be treated successfully with surgery when caught early, the outlet notes. Breast cancer in dogs is relatively common but rare in males, and when male dogs do develop it, the cancer tends to metastasize aggressively.