Dogs detect cancer

A study has or is being done to test dogs for detecting cancer. Their detecting positive samples 88-99% of the time.
They had a dog test 4 cancer patients that were said to be in remission from all the Dr.'s tests. One of the patients has the dog mark on their sample 24 of 25 times but when the Dr.'s tested it showed nothing. A year and a half later this persons cancer showed up again.

I have heard, and read, that they can detect melanoma..sp? Anyways, its the most serious kid of skin cancer.

Actually, only a few of the dogs were that accurate. All the dogs combined were around 50% right... (Unless this is a new one..)

Is this it? Heidi posted about cancer sniffers a long time ago: http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=16766&highlight=cancer+dogs

I thought I read it in the Star the other day but the study is being published all over the news so it may be a new study on an old subject. I first heard of the abilities years ago from a trainer. Any Google search on "dogs cancer" will bring up the new press on the research.

The results were pretty good and this should indicate how easily they can do it. Why Portuguese Water dogs I don't know.

"In this study, five ordinary household dogs -- three Labrador retrievers and two Portuguese water dogs -- were taught over three weeks using reward training to sniff out the disease. None of the dogs had any previous sniffer training."

The Star article also mentions the 'liability factor' of using dogs over high priced medical equipment but hey .... you can always have both right?

Here is a reprint from the Hamilton Spectator

http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1136589013230&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1014656511815

and the Star article.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1136589011414

Well, if the dog says yes, then definitely go in for the next test. If the dog says no... Well... Uhh... Go in for the test too...:o

This is a complicated issue - depends on the cancer, the dog, a lot of variables - but it does occur. Dogs are also used in other illnesses as well like epilepsy where dogs can ascertain that a seizure may be about to occur. here is much research being conducted on this - all intriguing!!

Dogs are awesome!

Watched another program on this topic today. Daily planet.
It gave a little more information on this. They have tested for lung and breast cancer with very high results of accuracy. Apparently the dogs are more accurate than the machines. They did a test on another cancer, sorry can't remember which one with the same high results.
They have tested stages 1-4 with the same high results so they think that they will be able to offer better treatment, earlier treatment.
They don't know what it is the dog is detecting but they are looking to find out. They have done variable tests to rule out confusion with other problems.