r/self • u/Calm-Cucumber-252 • 6d ago
I can smell when people have cancer
Believe it or not, I can smell when someone has cancer. It is the most pungent smell ever, and only gets worse the stronger it is. As a child, my grandpa started smelling funny, and after a while he was diagnosed with cancer. The smell got stronger as his cancer did, until he passed away. I thought nothing of it until my Nan on the other side started smelling the same way, and it got stronger until she eventually got diagnosed and passed away too. That’s when I started thinking wait maybe I can smell cancer (or maybe it’s just a coincidence). I started smelling the smell at varying strengths for people in public, and always kinda thought in the back of my head oh man I think they’ve got cancer. However, it wasn’t until my OTHER granddad got cancer and had to stay in hospital and at 17 I got to go visit him in a hospice specifically for cancer patients. I could hardly walk in the building. There it was again - that SMELL! Do people secrete certain chemicals when they have cancer? I have a strong sense of smell so I could possibly pick up on it. It’s definitely not when they’re going through chemo, because I can smell it on people who haven’t started chemo yet. I am genuinely going crazy trying to find an answer. This smell is horrendous and I just don’t understand why I can smell it when nobody else seemingly can??
Edit: on a long car journey rn, feeling a bit car sick so won’t be replying to any more comments for a while. This isn’t an April fools, I’ll repost it tomorrow if u really don’t believe! Will be contacting more research places too :)
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u/Zealousideal_Star252 6d ago
Honestly, I would keep reaching out to other researchers outside your area. Even if this isn't what you think it is (and as other commenters have pointed out, it's possible that is IS, weirder things have happened) something unique is definitely going on with you. Best case scenario, we have discovered potentially a new research weapon in the fight against cancer. Worst case scenario, you have a bizarre unknown condition yourself that causes you to experience these smells.
Either way, it's scientifically fascinating and potentially medically important, and someone will want to study it. Don't let one group of researchers being dismissive make you give up. If nothing else, you deserve the chance to find medical answers for yourself and the symptoms you're experiencing, as it's causing you concern.