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Scientists are warming up to the idea that a dog can assist them in developing an early warning test for deadly cancers. A dog’s sense of smell is measured as being up to 100,000 times superior to a human’s sense of smell. Based on success in recent testing, more in-depth and extensive tests and studies are planned.

As one doctor explains the concept, changes due to cancer show up as volatile chemicals in the bloodstream that leave the body through the air we exhale.

In a report published in 2006, five dogs were trained to recognize lung and breast cancer from human-breath samples. Their accuracy rates were similar to the accuracy rates of CT scans, X-rays, and mammography.

Based on these promising results, scientists are now attempting a way to produce an artificial early detection test that emulates a dog’s ability to smell out cancer. They want to replicate the ability that dogs seem to come by naturally.  The latest scientific studies are focused on creating an artificial nose with finely tuned sensors. Instead of assessing breath samples, the electronic nose analyzes cells for malignancy.

There is currently testing being developed to detect brain, ovarian, and lung cancer.  These three types of cancer are some of the biggest killers as far as cancers go.  To be able to detect any of these cancers in the early stages can make an amazing difference in the survival rate. All of these cancers often go undetected until they have spread to another part of the body. There are often no obvious signs of cancer in their early stages. If science can utilize this natural canine talent it will save lives and offer a diagnostic test that is not painful or intrusive to the patient.

It doesn’t take a special breed or a dog trained from birth to have a dog that can detect a particular cancer. Most household dog can be trained to do this.  The only requirements is that they are well behaved and don’t get distracted easily.

As with any new scientific development, some people are more skeptical than others. It’s agreed by most people that expanded testing is needed but it seems like science is headed in the right direction.