Hairdresser, 41, whose bloated stomach was ovarian cancer credits pet Chihuahua with saving her life after dog jumped on her stomach causing a lump to appear

  • Tess Robison, 41, had been suffering from back pain and bloating 
  • Hairdresser from South Shields, South Tyneside, put it down to food intolerance 
  • Beloved chihuahua Lola jumped on her stomach causing a lump to appear 
  • She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and stage three tumour 

A chihuahua has been hailed a hero after detecting her owners stage three cancer and saving her life.

Tess Robison, 41, of South Shields, South Tyneside, had been suffering from back pain and bloating but thought she had a food intolerance, and had no idea a deadly tumour was growing inside her.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was only when her beloved chihuahua Lola jumped forcibly on her stomach causing a lump to appear that she finally went to the doctor and discovered she had ovarian cancer.

The hairdresser who is now in recovery, said: 'For weeks, she had been just sat there staring at me.'

Tess Robison, from South Shields, whose pet chihuahua dog Lola saved her life when jumped on her and a lump emerged in her stomach which forced her to get tested
Tess's  tumour was 12cm, so big that she looked four months pregnant. With her being slim it stuck out quite far
Tess was devastated by the diagnosis, but most importantly she was able to get the treatment she needed. Pictured, Tess's lump.

'I know dogs can be intuitive and it was freaking me out a bit.'

'Then one day when I was suffering from particularly bad bowel pain, she jumped heavily onto my stomach.'

'The pain was like something else and a big lump came up and so I went to get checked out.'

'I was devastated by the diagnosis, but most importantly I was able to get the treatment I needed.'

Beloved pet Lola happened to jump on her owner on a day when Tess was suffering from particularly bad bowel pain
Tess and her husband Paul, 34, a plasterer, don't have any children but are considering adopting
For weeks, Tess's chihuahua, Lola, had been sat there staring at her before jumping hard onto her stomach

'If I'd left it any longer it would have been too late. I honestly believe Lola saved my life.'

Tess has now undergone six gruelling rounds of chemotherapy as well as a full hysterectomy and is waiting to see if she's got the all clear.

She was diagnosed in January 2021 and underwent the operation in June, which saw her have 42 staples in her stomach.

Tess has now undergone six gruelling rounds of chemotherapy as well as a full hysterectomy and is waiting to see if she's got the all clear
The hairdresser has never been a doom and gloom person and  says she never will be. She reveals she's going to fight it all the way because she's got so much she wants to do
She was diagnosed in January 2021 and underwent the operation in June, which saw her have 42 staples in her stomach

Tess, who has had Lola, four, since she was a puppy, added: 'They said you've got ovarian cancer so I said, 'What do we do now?' They were taken aback because I was so calm and collected.

'The tumour was 12cm, it was quite big and I looked four months pregnant. With being slim it stuck out quite far.

'I've never been a doom and gloom person and I never will be. I'm going to fight it all the way because I've got so much I want to do. I want to go to New York and Las Vegas.'

ADVERTISEMENT

'I'm not the kind of person to cry about it.'

Hairdresser Tess is hoping to get her own salon soon after finding a renewed lust for life and following her dreams
Tess reveals that  she can't describe how grateful I am to her dog Lola, 'without her I might not be here,' she said
Tess admits she's  learned so much. She never used to go out because I get anxiety. It's made her think that life is for living
Tess has now finished her treatment and will find out her prognosis on September 23, when she goes for her follow up appointment

'I've learned so much. I never used to go out because I get anxiety. It's made me think your life is for living, do what you can because time is precious, don't waste it.'

'If you've got dreams and hopes, go for it. I'm aiming to get a little salon.'

'I'm not letting life slip away anymore.'

Tess has now finished her treatment and will find out her prognosis on September 23, when she goes for her follow up appointment.

She does not have any children with her husband Paul, 34, a plasterer, but they are considering adopting.

'I feel quite positive for the future. I am feeling well in myself, and so much better now the treatments over.'

'I can't describe how grateful I am to Lola. Without her I might not be here,' she said.