Dogs can smell cancer but scientists not sure how this can help

A GROUP OF researchers in Germany are building up evidence to prove that dogs can really smell cancer.

According to a report by CNN Health, a new study has found that dogs can pick up on the scent of organic compounds linked to the presence of lung cancer in the human body.

Four clever dogs detected lung cancer in 71 out of 100 patients after being asked to sniff test tubes of their breath. When they smelled cancer, the dogs lay down in front of the tube and touched the vial with their noses.

Although the findings are interesting, researchers are not sure if ‘man’s best friend’ will necessarily make good “early-detection devices”.

The scientists behind the study say there is one main problem – they cannot figure out what exactly the dogs smell.

“Unfortunately, dogs cannot communicate the biochemistry of the scent of cancer,” concluded the German-based researchers.

Read the full report by CNN Health >