My 4 legged friend is a cat, not a dog.

The fact that some dogs may smell some types of cancer (do not forget that there are lots of types) does not make them a prevention tool, just a diagnose aid.

Well prevention in the sense that they can predict oncoming seizures, and if they can smellc ancer, they can prevent deaths that come from not being diagnosed until too late. If they can smell cancer cells, what other kinds of cells might they be able to detect? Bacteria that causes food poisoning? Bad prions?

Also, if dogs can detect these things, can electronic noses do the same?

Originally posted by RedBalloon
Also, if dogs can detect these things, can electronic noses do the same?

That reminds me of something I saw on TV some weeks ago about a electronic nose, but I can not remember where.

Oddly enough, I saw a Ripley's Believe It Or Not! episode on this years ago....

Originally posted by RedBalloon
New research out of the UK...

Originally posted by Gazrok
Oddly enough, I saw a Ripley's Believe It Or Not! episode on this years ago...

Gazrok beat me to it...

I was gonna say that this is nothing new. I too have seen this on TV for quite a few years as well...

The difference between then and now is that now it's been aparently proven that they can sniff out cancer. Until now it was mainly speculation and 'ain't it cool' but there were no concrete treatments or accepted techniques.

edit: hilite

[edit on 23-9-2004 by RedBalloon]

yes it's good to hear about the potential for canine cancer screening but i have to say i worry about privacy invasion.

how long before we have to strip to our underwear as part of a "routine" exam and then have a wet nose sniff us for depression, or high cholesterol, or heart disease?? gues what? it's already happened [with depression] in a few schools.