Dogs Know When You Have Cancer
You might have heard this before but I still think it's incredible. Dogs can sniff out cancer . A new study in Pennsylvania has found that dogs can actually smell ovarian cancer. Sounds scary (and kind of gross), but "Researchers trying to develop a diagnostic tool for ovarian cancer are hoping dogs' keen sense of smell will lead them down the right path," according to an AP story. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania's Working Dog Center have developed a simple test using blood and tissue samples donated by patients, then training three canines to "sniff out the signature compound that indicates the presence of ovarian cancer." If the animals can isolate the chemical marker, scientists at the nearby Monell Chemical Senses Center will work to create an electronic sensor to identify the same odor, the Kathy Matheson at the AP reports. "Because if the dogs can do it, then the question is, Can our analytical instrumentation do it? We ...