Study finds that sniffer dogs can detect lung cancer

[Playinghardball]

Source: Reuters - Raw Story

LONDON (Reuters) - German scientists experimenting with sniffer dogs have found they can accurately detect lung cancer by smelling breath samples.

In a study carried out by researchers from Schillerhoehe Hospital in Germany, the dogs were able to correctly detect lung tumors in 71 percent of patients, suggesting a similar technique could be used for early detection in future.

"In the breath of patients with lung cancer, there are likely to be different chemicals to normal breath samples and the dogs' keen sense of smell can detect this difference at an early stage of the disease," said Thorsten Walles, who led the study and published its findings in the European Respiratory Journal on Thursday.

Lung cancer, mostly linked to smoking, is the second most common form of cancer in men and women across Europe and causes more than 340,000 deaths per year. It is also the most common cause of death from cancer worldwide.

More at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/18/study-finds-that-sniffer-dogs-can-detect-lung-cancer/

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[Blue Owl]

2. I don't believe that humans necessarily "undervalue" dogs...

But do we realize their full potential?

[KurtNYC]

3. Though the phrase is "Man's best friend" I really think of them as a great ally

because that word embraces their skill set as being different and extending ours.

Dog studies are very hot these days. Until about 15 years back we relied on CW and some wolf pack studies but now there is quite a bit being done to discover what dogs' abilities truly are with respect to the way the see, hear, smell, understand, remember, empathize, anticipate, and learn. Just finished reading "Inside of a Dog" (meta analysis of recent dog studies) and "Understanding Dog Mind" (a Zen referencing approach to interaction with, and training of dogs).