Cancer breath test 'step closer'

[Maggy J]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13133286

A breath test that can sniff-out cancer is a step closer to reality, according to a preliminary study.
Researchers found an "electronic nose" was able to identify chemical signals of cancer in the breath of patients with lung or head and neck cancer.

Sounds great but..

A cancer charity said it would take years of research to see if the breath test could be used in the clinic.

because.

"But it's important to be clear that this is a small study, at a very early stage, so many more years of research with patients will be needed to see if a breath test could be used in the clinic."

Journalists eh! Always raising hopes.

[joglynne]

There have been several reports over the last few years of dogs being able to detect certain cancers and this one in particular caught my eye earlier this month.

Researchers at Japan's Kyushu University have reportedly trained an eight-year-old labrador retriever named Marine to detect colorectal cancer through scent. <snip> Marine had a 95 percent accuracy rate when sniffing the breath and 98 percent rate when using stool.

http://www.rttnews.com/Content/Healt...d=1544050&SM=1

[bw41101]

Originally Posted by joglynne

There have been several reports over the last few years of dogs being able to detect certain cancers and this one in particular caught my eye earlier this month.

Researchers at Japan's Kyushu University have reportedly trained an eight-year-old labrador retriever named Marine to detect colorectal cancer through scent. <snip> Marine had a 95 percent accuracy rate when sniffing the breath and 98 percent rate when using stool.

http://www.rttnews.com/Content/Healt...d=1544050&SM=1

I imagine that training must have been relativelly easy as getting a dog to sniff bottoms would not be too difficult to achieve. In any respect, this is typical of how science has adapted to the use of natural resources in the furtherance of medicine.

Lets hope it proves to be as accurate as the percentages suggest. If one life can be saved through early diagnosis, this would certainly be an achievement.

Si thee

[Caff]

Dogs' enhanced sniffing and audio skills are so heightened.
Humans' best friend when coupled with loyalty - amazing.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13133286



Sounds great but..


because.


Journalists eh! Always raising hopes.

Well, I used to have some friends who worked for Pfizer (although clearly not for much longer, assuming they are still there)..

I don't know the rules for tests, but the rules for drugs effectively meant that each drug was tested for nearly 10 years before being allowed out to the public.

[Caff]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Well, I used to have some friends who worked for Pfizer (although clearly not for much longer, assuming they are still there)..

I don't know the rules for tests, but the rules for drugs effectively meant that each drug was tested for nearly 10 years before being allowed out to the public.

But it's a dog sniffing urine/body fluids not a drug given to a patient. But the training and accuracy of detection are crucial which I trust would be carefully monitored.