Cat - Dogs Detect Cancer in Humans

Recently, in the news you may have heard of Oscar the Cat, who stays at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island. Oscar can predict a person's death is near or eminent and pays a visit to that person's bedside when the time gets nearer to death. How does he know this you ask? The grim reaper cat is only 2 years old, and already is astounding medical researchers with his talented insight. In some nursing homes across the country they allow dogs and cats to visit the residents, since they offer cheer and smiles to those who are old and sick. It is believed that pets enhance the outlook on life of sick and older people. Oscar's visit however, means more than we would want to know about when he walks into the room. The Cancer diagnosis ability of dogs first appeared to be studied in 1989, and in early 2000 to 2001. It was then explored that dogs could detect bladder cancers, and melanomas as well, as lung and breast cancers. In the article in Saga Journals entitled "Diagnostic Accuracy of Canine Scent Detection in Early and Late Stage Lung and Breast Cancers" the study was conducted by The Pine Street Foundation, in San Anselmo, California. The group comprised of; Michael McCulloch, Tadeusz Jerzierski, Michael Broffman, and others did an Integrative Cancer Therapy study involving 83 patients, of which 55 were lung cancer, and 32 breast cancer patients. The report in Saga Journals involved 5 dogs, 3 Lab Retrievers and 2 Portuguese Water dogs employed a reward based training method, where the dog's sniffed and identified samples by sitting in front of the cancerous samples. The results? Quoted from the Sage Publications, on the study, available at: Sagejournal.com " Among lung cancer patients and controls, overall sensitivity of canine scent detection compared to biopsy-confirmed conventional diagnosis was 0.99 (95% confidence interval , 0.99, 1.00) and overall specificity 0.99 (95% CI, 0.96, 1.00). Among breast cancer patients and controls, sensitivity was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.75, 1.00) and specificity 0.98 (95% CI, 0.90, 0.99). Sensitivity and specificity were remarkably similar across all 4 stages of both diseases. Conclusion: Training was efficient and cancer identification was accurate; in a matter of weeks, ordinary household dogs with only basic behavioural "puppy training" were trained to accurately distinguish breath samples of lung and breast cancer patients from those of controls". The dogs had a 95 percent accuracy compared to biopsy confirmed diagnosis of cancers. Also in breast cancer patients and controls, their sensitivity was 95 percent and for all 4 stages of both lung and breast cancer. This indicates that even if a cancer is in stage 1, their accuracy was the same as if it was at a stage 4 cancer. The dogs were ordinary household pets that conceivably can detect the set of chemicals that cancer patients exhale and in some cases, even before a diagnosis is made, which has been confirmed by regular medical tests. Perhaps someone can study what those chemicals are made up of, since a dog can certainly accurately identified the presence of these chemicals. A British journal reported that in their study in Britain, where the dog in one case, indicated a positive response to one particular sample, from a non-cancer patient or so they thought at the time. The researcher in the case was surprised that the dog identified a non-cancerous sample. That subject was tested again, and medical results came back that the person unknowingly had kidney and bladder cancer. Presently, dogs continue to be studied for their uncanny ability to sniff cancer either lung or breast cancer, and a dog scan would be a lot less painful and invasive than having a mammogram. Do dogs possess more of an amazing ability in scenting, or have we known this for years, as they are used to track people lost in the woods, or on the hunt for escaped prisoners. These days they sniff out illegal drugs, and bombs at airports providing a vital service to protect us against attacks. In England, dog owners train their pets to track the most expensive delicacy on earth -truffles. The areas in England are in the heartlands of Wiltshire and Hampshire. There is even a training school for dogs to be taught how to find truffles in the woods. Truffles are buried underground which are a little harder to find but worth the effort at up to $ 2,200.00 a pound for the more expensive white ones. The breeds being used are; Spaniels, Labs, Poodles, and a special breed of Italian truffle hounds called the Lagotto Romagnolo. Dogs have the capacity to filter the smallest particles in their noses, and can determine different chemicals in the atmosphere or in a breath sample. The whole world out there to a dog is sifted, and translated through their nose, they can determine much information via this venue especially about their owners. Have you ever wondered why a dog sniffs at you when you first come home after being away all day? They are detecting where you have been, your mood, and can scent whom you have been with, especially if you patted another dog. This makes Oscar's ability not only astounding, but confirms that cat's also possess an amazing an inexplicable ability to detect disease in humans. The very fact that Oscar can smell or somehow detect approaching death, also verifies that cats have a keen sense of smell detection. This has yet to be thoroughly documented, or studied and perhaps researchers should study more cats, rather than spending millions on diagnostic machinery. Ongoing research and studies are being conducted in California, and England on different types of cancers, and predictably dogs will prove to be an amazing diagnostic tool in the arsenal to fight against cancer through early detection in the future. Conceivably a dog can detect the same set of chemicals that cancer patients exhale while they are being diagnosed or even before a diagnosis is made and confirmed by regular medical tests. Dogs are greatly underestimated in their abilities as disease detectors, but we dog owners knew that all along, its just taking medical science longer to figure that out for themselves as the evidence is irrefutable. Oscar the cat, has a complete accuracy rate so far of 25 out of 25, so he is batting 1,000. It brings a new meaning to the words "Cat Scan". Oscar is so accurate that once he visits a room, the nurses call the immediate family! I wonder if Oscar gets a healthy treat now and then for his humanitarian efforts. Teri Salvador More details on the study can be found at Sage Publications: http://ict.sagepub.com From a blog all about dog health and issues, giving away free memberships to the "Doggin Newsletter". You will not receive this information anywhere else with up to the minute news on dogs, health, products, food, and supplies. A surprise free gift for new subscribers, discounts, and up coming contests. For more information visit: http://www.DogHealth1.com Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Teri_Salvador Cat - For the Love of Charlie He arrived in early February 2005. Although new to our quiet middle class neighborhood, he acted as if he belonged there. A tiger cat with silver markings, with just enough brown and white to highlight them. But what struck you were his eyes. Huge, round, they went straight into your soul without mercy. The first day he walked up our driveway like he owned the place. Vocal, he meowed his introductions as we stroked his fur. Affectionate - he nibbled your fingers as he accepted all attention he felt entitled to. He wore an old collar with no information. Obviously well fed, his stomach would swing with his strides. I reassured my partner that he belonged to someone, and was just visiting. Secretly...I was worried. We already owned three cats, and one required daily medical attention. We didn't need another one. But Charlie soon wandered off so I relaxed a little. The following day he was sitting on our front door mat, waiting for us to return from work. This was very bad. My partner didn't help matters when she let him in. Needless to say our cats were not pleased to see Charlie. He sniffed noses and ignored hisses...he wanted to explore the house and had no time for their petty complaints. Amazed, we watched him explore each room, open shelves, jump on all furniture and counters. Whoever coined the phrase "Curiosity killed the cat" must have known Charlie, or his close relative. We offered food, which he refused. This confirmed my belief he was owned and getting meals elsewhere, so I relaxed a little. Even when he spent the night curled on our bed, and at one point under the covers. The next day - no Charlie. We found ourselves looking for him. Opening the front door looking up and down the street. Neither of us wanted to admit we enjoyed our mystery cat. Our other three cats relaxed a little. The following day Charlie came running to us as we returned from work. Full of stories he kept vocalizing as he curled around our legs. But something was wrong. He kept cocking his head sideways. I have owned cats my entire 40 years and never seen this before. He also seemed tired and unsteady. When he vomited yellow liquid we bundled him up for his first Vet trip. Of course the first thing they ask is how old he is. Ahhh ... well we were hoping you could tell us. This brought a blank stare from the Staff. We explained his history, and now Charlie had them by the heartstrings. Several tests later he was diagnosed with a failing liver, because he wasn't eating. Our Vet Christine spent a good thirty minutes explaining when a cat stops eating they will break down quickly. We had options of course. Force feeding and medication, or putting him down. We'd never faced anything like this before - my partner and I. One look at her eyes and I knew our answer. "We want this cat." Christine nodded and scheduled Charlie for a neck tube operation. Since Charlie wasn't eating we would need to feed him. For two months we fed him, by syringe, a mixture of special food, medication, and vitamins. These meals were small ones, given slowly, every few hours. Daily I also cleaned his neck wound (from the tube) and gave him IV fluids under the skin. We literally set the clock to do feedings. And not all of them would stay down. He didn't care for the needle either. It took two of us to keep him occupied long enough to drip in 200 ML. To pass the time I sang lullabies. I'm not musically talented, but the songs calmed me down, so I hoped he would relax as well. I think it worked...I certainly had a captive audience. Gradually we saw improvement. He loved the backyard and would find a sunny spot to watch the bird feeder, hoping one bird would fall off for dinner. We offered regular food, all kinds of moist and dry, at regular intervals. Charlie would sniff and walk away. Our Vet told us it was possible the tube was going to be permanent. Another Vet said to stop feeding him anything, which we disregarded immediately. But gradually we reduced his amount of food and hoped natural hunger would help. At this point, Charlie wanted to go out the front door. We worried he would disappear and leave us behind, but we needed to face it. We could just be a stop along his way. We let him out one morning and closed the door behind him. Watching through the glass, he looked back in disbelief. He was alone. Freedom! At work all day we both wondered if Charlie would be there...waiting for us. The day dragged by until quitting time arrived. No sign as we parked the car and walked up the front door path. But as we reached the door a striped cat appeared at our ankles...telling us about his exciting day. We were joyous, then tearful, as Charlie rushed in and ate dry food. The next day we had his tube removed and we celebrated his return to full health by walking through the neighborhood, with Charlie at our heels. Today, Charlie is a regular member of our household. We can't imagine our life before this character entered it...and took over. Our other cats accept him now, and bravely tried to accompany us on a walk. It didn't last beyond two houses. But Charlie, now well known by our neighbors, loves these walks, occasionally rolling in favorite spots along the way. So if a cat wanders your way, and decides to stay, be thankful. It means he has chosen YOU.