Woman's Dog Detects Her Breast Cancer, Saving Her Life

Chase Johnson credits her dog Ceto with alerting her to a cancerous lump, leading to early detection and successful treatment.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Chase Johnson, a 36-year-old attorney from Cary, North Carolina, credits her dog Ceto with saving her life after his unusual behavior led to the discovery of her breast cancer. Ceto, a Labrador and retriever mix, started acting anxious and whimpering around Johnson, which prompted her to check her breast and find a lump. After multiple doctor visits and tests, Johnson was diagnosed with an aggressive form of triple-negative breast cancer. She immediately underwent successful treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, a lumpectomy, and lymph node removal. Johnson says that if she had not persisted in seeking medical care when Ceto alerted her, she may not have survived.

Why it matters

This story highlights the remarkable ability of dogs to detect certain medical conditions, like cancer, through changes in a person's scent or behavior. It also underscores the importance of being one's own advocate when it comes to health concerns, even when medical professionals initially dismiss them. Johnson's experience demonstrates how early detection can be lifesaving, especially for aggressive forms of breast cancer.

The details

In January 2021, Johnson noticed her typically calm dog Ceto becoming anxious and whimpering around her. A few weeks later, Ceto became 'all worked up' and poked Johnson's left breast with his nose, causing her pain. This prompted Johnson to check her breast and find a lump. She initially faced resistance from her primary care provider, who told her she was too young for cancer and the lump was likely a benign cyst. However, Johnson persisted, citing Ceto's previous ability to detect her husband's colon cancer. Johnson was eventually able to get a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy, leading to her triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis on February 16, 2021. Her oncologist told her that if she had waited until her originally scheduled appointment in May, the outcome may have been very different.

  • In January 2021, Ceto started acting 'anxious' around Johnson.
  • A few weeks later, in early 2021, Ceto poked Johnson's left breast with his nose.
  • On February 16, 2021, Johnson was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.

The players

Chase Johnson

A 36-year-old attorney from Cary, North Carolina, who was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer after her dog Ceto alerted her to a cancerous lump.

Ceto

Johnson's Labrador and retriever mix dog, who started acting anxious and whimpering around Johnson, ultimately leading to the discovery of her breast cancer.

Ben Byrn

Johnson's husband, who Ceto had previously alerted to his own colon cancer diagnosis.

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What they’re saying

“Ceto is a pretty calm dog; he never gets anxious and is always pretty chill. A couple of weeks before I found the lump, he followed me around the house, would pace the room, whimpering and became really anxious.”

— Chase Johnson (nypost.com)

“If he had not done that, I would not have found it.”

— Chase Johnson (nypost.com)

“After my diagnosis, I met with my oncologist, she said if I had waited till May, that we would be having a very different conversation, and I may not have survived.”

— Chase Johnson (nypost.com)

What’s next

Chase Johnson is currently participating in a Cleveland Clinic clinical trial for a preventive breast cancer vaccine.

The takeaway

This story demonstrates the remarkable ability of dogs to detect certain medical conditions through changes in a person's scent or behavior, and underscores the importance of being one's own advocate when it comes to health concerns, even when medical professionals initially dismiss them. Johnson's experience highlights how early detection can be lifesaving, especially for aggressive forms of breast cancer.