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Dogs Sniff Out Cancer

A hundred years ago, some doctors were trained to recognize certain diseases by smell. That skill is no longer being taught in medical school. But canines, who have a far more sensitive sense of smell than humans, may soon be added to diagnostic strategies. Previous studies have show that dogs can be trained to detect bladder cancer by sniffing urine samples. Now, researchers have found that dogs can detect lung cancer by identifying certain volatile organic compounds in patients’ breath. The dogs were able to distinguish between lung cancer patients, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and healthy volunteers, demonstrating that the use of canine sniffing ability could help doctors detect lung cancer earlier than is now usual.
[European Respiratory Journal, online August 18, 2011]

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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