Can Dogs Detect Cancer?
By Randi Morse
Dogs are definitely man, and woman's, best friend. They're always ready to cuddle when we're feeling down, always ready to protect us, and are always happy to see us when we get home. There's no doubt that dogs are amazing four-legged family members to have, but did you know that out of all the skills your dog has, one may be able to save your life?
A Dog's Nose
A dog's nose is actually about 10,000 times more sensitive to smells than a human's nose is. They have better receptors than we do, and their unique noses allow them to retain the smell in their nose even after they exhale. That's how they're always able to track people and items. There have been a number of stories online about people whose pets have discovered something medically wrong with the owner before the owner even knew. Some researchers wanted to see if a dog's nose would be sensitive enough to accurately determine the difference between a vial of blood from a healthy donor and a vial of blood from a donor who had been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer.
Trainers worked with the dogs for eight weeks, training the dogs to go into the "sit" position as soon as they smelled cancer. If there was no cancer, the dog would go onto the next sample. The research showed that the dogs were able to identify the vials with the cancerous cells with 97.5 percent specificity.
Cheaper Diagnosis
This type of data is life changing. One big problem with cancer is how expensive it is to diagnose. Some cancers are extremely difficult to get a diagnosis for, and the delay in diagnosing can make treatment much more difficult. But if a dog can be trained to smell cancer in the bloodstream it would be easier, and likely faster, for doctors to get a diagnosis. The faster a diagnosis is achieved; the faster treatment can begin which increases the likelihood of remission.
If dogs are proving that they are amazing at detecting cancer, why haven't their skills been utilized in hospitals yet? The scientific world requires a great deal of proof, and while one study has shown that a group of beagles can be easily trained to locate a specific type of cancer, a lot more work and study needs to be done before this becomes a new diagnostic tool.
If you're a cat lover, you may want to try becoming a dog lover. It just might save your life.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Sacramento, Calif.