Health

Can Dogs Tell if You Have Cancer by Smelling Your Breath?

The Art of Racing in the Rain, a New York Times best-seller, is narrated by a family’s dog, whose aspiration is to be reincarnated as human. In the book, (spoiler alert if you haven’t read it) he is able to sniff out a cancerous tumor in his master‘s wife’s brain before anyone else knows about it. Current research shows, this idea may not be too far fetched.

Though not an entirely new concept, research is continuing to confirm the accuracy with which dogs can smell cancer. A study by researchers at the Schillerhoehe Hospital in Germany showed that dogs correctly identified lung cancer 71 percent of the time.

Published in the European Respiratory Journal, out of 220 volunteers who gave breath samples — a mix of healthy individuals and those with lung cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — dogs correctly identified cancer 71 patients with confirmed lung cancer. As the study states, early detection is key to a positive prognosis.

According to BBC [via Science Daily and the European Lung Association], the dogs were able to detect cancer even amidst tobacco smoke, food odors and other medications, which may have been on the patients breath when the sample was given. With few early detection techniques for lung cancer — the number one most common cause of death from cancer worldwide — this method relies on a sample of exhaled breath from the patient and the theory that dogs are smelling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are produced in the presence of cancer.

Dr Thorsten Walles, the report’s author from Schillerhoehe Hospital, said: “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.

“Our results confirm the presence of a stable marker for lung cancer. This is a big step forward.”

The use of sniffer dogs was first suggested in 1989 and studies since have shown they can identify a variety of cancers, not just lung. This news report from a local Fox network in Florida earlier this August, tells the story of a dog who the owner believes alerted her to the presence of stage-four lung cancer.

Researchers are developing an electronic “nose” to mimic the accuracy and sensitivity of a dog’s smelling ability to one day detect the same chemical the dog identifies as cancer. But, the chemical that tips the dog off has not yet been identified by researchers. BBC reports Laura McCallum, the science information office for Cancer Research UK as saying: ”Although there are now some intriguing studies suggesting that dogs may be able to smell cancer in some situations, we‘re still a long way from understanding exactly which ’smelly molecules’ they are detecting and if these studies are accurate.”

Comments (50)

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  • TheDebtWeAllPay
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 11:42am

    Dogs are great

    Report Post » TheDebtWeAllPay  
  • jedidiah
    Posted on August 22, 2011 at 1:23am

    They took the dog to MarxistStateNBC, each member of the freak show breathed on him, and he identified stage four colon cancer in each zoo inhabitant. Researcher said the subjects must have been kissing butt continuously for at least two and a half, three years to evidence that degree of breath-detectable colon cancer.

    Report Post » jedidiah  
  • Dennis
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:20pm

    My dog lets me know I have a phone call before the phone rings.
    He even lets me know if it is a wrong number before I say hello.
    So I cancelled caller ID.

    Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 11:07pm

    OH NO! According to my dog,all my friends have testicular cancer!

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 8:59pm

    That’s how Lassie diagnosed Hugo Chavez,she also said his breath smelled of sulfur!

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • FAL Guy
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 8:50pm

    When you have a dog, you can eat like hog!

    Report Post » FAL Guy  
    • chazman
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 8:59pm

      I remember seeing a Jack Russell on 60 Minutes almost 20 years ago who could smell out skin cancer. Everytime the patient was alerted by the dog, the doctor’s found more cancer, until they finally eradicated it. Dogs are sooo cool. Truly mans’ best friend!

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 10:01am

      Both times I got cancer, my dog was almost attached to my side….slept under my feet when at the computer, moved to every room I did. I think she can detect a seizure, too. I have simple partial seizures and she gets really “licky” when she normally isn’t when I feel funny. Of course being licked by a jack russel terrier/beagle mix, can make you feel funny anyway. By the way, love the humor on this article.

      Report Post »  
  • Jay G
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 8:11pm

    I am currently 3 years post-op with lung cancer. I have a dog, a Munsterlander, a Germand hunting dog. Before I was diagnosed, when I would talk to him, he would keep trying to put his nose real close to my mouth, and he always had a really concerned look on his face. It was really unsettling because at that time, I thought that I could feel something going on with my lung, but I didn’t want to admit it. Six months later, I was diagnosed.

    Now, 3 years post op, I go over and talk to my dog and he is wagging his tail, a totally different reaction from what I used to get.

    Report Post » Jay G  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 10:39pm

      i have heard about this before. I believe it…

      Report Post »  
  • Indymaverick
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 7:08pm

    Not sure. But my dachshund gets mad and leaves when I f@rt in bed.

    Report Post » Indymaverick  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 10:02am

      My mom had a daschund who f a r t ed near a co2 detector and set it off!

      Report Post »  
  • SFsuper49er
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 4:09pm

    Don’t know … Ask them?

    Report Post »  
  • SUEB
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 3:20pm

    I had a friend who had breast cancer. WHen she came into my house my dog would not let any of my family members near her. He was acting as if he was protecting her from us….but thinking about it, it was just the opposite. THis dog also did this with a friend of mine…come to think of it she had been diagnosted with cancer three months later…..SO I believe they have some sort of sense about illnesses…just what it is or why they act that way…I don’t know….

    Report Post »  
  • FireTheLeft
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 3:16pm

    And if you have Prostate Cancer, where does the dog put his nose ????

    Report Post »  
  • nelan72
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 1:58pm

    Bacon? not cancer
    Now all I need to do is find a job for a gerbil.

    Report Post »  
  • becker88
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 1:46pm

    What good would that do you still have cancer.

    http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos

    Report Post »  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 1:42pm

    What we really need is some kind of animal that can smell bull sh*T when someone is spitting it out. That would stop a lot of the crap that people do.

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 22, 2011 at 10:03am

      Don’t get that animal near Obama, it’ll go crazy! ALERT, ALERT; ALERT!

      Report Post »  
  • NeoKong
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 1:19pm

    A bloodhound can track a car that got on the highway for several exits.
    I have seen a dog start barking at the door at least a minute before someone knocked.
    It’s like they got radar.

    Report Post » NeoKong  
  • willbedone
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 1:03pm

    The reason the medical profession does not use this procedure is because they can’t charge $10,000.00 for a “test” and another $5,000.00 for someone to “read” the results.

    Report Post » willbedone  
  • mendolover
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 1:01pm

    I know they can because I read the article a week ago.

    Report Post »  
  • unionssuck
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 1:01pm

    Two commiecrats were walking down the street and come upon a dog liking his junk one commiecrat said to the other i wish i could do that. The other said you better pet him first he might bite.

    Report Post »  
  • Thighmaster
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:46pm

    Rather than developing an electronic “nose” why not use the noses that already exsist? You save an animal from being put to sleep and in turn the animal does what comes natural. Of course you can charge way more for an electronic sniffer than you can from a furry friendly one. A dog would do it for a pat on the head and a little of your attention. Now which is the best deal?

    Report Post » Thighmaster  
  • Taxpayer550
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:37pm

    C’mon Protectusandbuildroads! You got me hangin here. Finish the joke!

    Report Post » Taxpayer550  
  • godlovinmom
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:34pm

    Dogs are amazing…saw a dog the other day helping an autistic kid at the fair…mom said would of never taken him to the fair without the dog…from sniffing out drugs, bombs, tornado victims, home after being lost for a month, helping the blind…and now cancer….yes, dogs are awesome.

    Report Post » godlovinmom  
  • Taxpayer550
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:34pm

    Can Dogs Tell if You Have Cancer by Smelling Your Breath?
    I find it difficult to believe that a dog can detect cancer in a human. Heck, they can’t even tell the difference between a female dog and my right leg!

    Report Post » Taxpayer550  
  • missaudrey
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:29pm

    I read about the cancer detecting dogs a long time ago. I wonder how much that test would cost! Probably not covered by insurance. As for me, I’d trust a dogs nose before all the fancy lab tests!

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:37pm

      You got that right . the dog has no agenda …. doesn’t care what insurance you have or how much … I would trust the DOG!

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:26pm

    Wonderful news if this is able to be comfirmed and carried out; it may save even more lives in the rest of the world save here under Obama-care.
    http://artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (cat folk gallery)

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • YepImaConservative
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:20pm

    There’s a joke here about a dog sniffing your arse, but can’t seem to remember it.

    Report Post » YepImaConservative  
    • Protect us and build roads
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:31pm

      Hillary Clinton called Bill into her office one day and said, “Bill, I have a great idea! I know how we can win back middle America and secure my presidential victory in 2008.”

      “Great, but how so you propose we go about that”, asked Bill? “Are we gonna have someone knock off Obamba like we did Vince Foster?”

      “No silly”, Hillary responds, “we’ll go down to a local Wal-Mart, get some cheezy clothes and shoes like most middle Americans wear, and then we’ll stop at the pound and pick up a Labrador. When we look the part, we’ll go to a nice old country bar somewhere in middle America and show them that we really enjoy the countryside, and show admiration and respect for the hard working people living there.”

      A few days later, all decked out and with the requisite Labrador at heel, they set off from New York in a westerly direction. Eventually they arrived at just the place they were looking for.

      With the dog in tow, they walk into a bar. When they stepped up to the bar, the bartender takes a step back and says, “Aren’t you Bill and Hillary Clinton?”

      “Yes we are”, says Hillary, “and what a lovely town you have here. We were just passing through and Bill suggested we stop and take in some local color.”

      They then order a couple of cocktails and proceed to drink them down, all the while, chatting up a storm with anyone who would listen.

      All of a sudden… the bar room door opens and a grizzled old farmer comes in. He walks up to the Labrador, l

      Report Post »  
    • YepImaConservative
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:36pm

      Good so far… looking for the punch-line, lol.

      Report Post » YepImaConservative  
    • NancyBee
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:47pm

      Protect us and build roads………………….LOL……will you finish this story or are we left to our own imaginations?

      Report Post » NancyBee  
    • YepImaConservative
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 12:50pm

      >UNFINISHED JOKE TELLER.

      All of a sudden… the bar room door opens and a grizzled old farmer comes in. He walks up to the Labrador, lifts its tail, and looks underneath, shrugs his shoulders and walks out the door.

      A few moments later, in comes another old farmer… walks up to the dog, lifts its tail, looks underneath, scratches his head and then leaves the bar.

      Over the course of the next hour or so, another four or five farmers came in, lifted the dog’s tail, and went away looking puzzled.

      Eventually Hillary and Bill could stand it no longer and called the bartender over.

      “Tell me”, says Hillary, “why did all those old farmers come in and look under the dog’s tail like that? Is it some sort of cute old custom?”

      “Good Lord no”, said the bartender. “Its just that someone had told them there was a Labrador in this bar with two A-holes!”

      Report Post » YepImaConservative  
    • NancyBee
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 1:12pm

      YepImaConservative………….That was a good ending…… lol!….

      Report Post » NancyBee  
    • YepImaConservative
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 1:19pm

      Lol, glad I could help Mr/Ms “Protect us and build roads” with the punch-line.

      Report Post » YepImaConservative  
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