A study has found that dogs can detect cancer by smell, probably because of the scent of abnormal proteins in cancer cells. The dogs in the study, all just companion animals, not specially trained dogs, were able to detect cancer in urine samples of bladder cancer patients with three times the accuracy of pure chance. So no, not a good idea to forgo a biopsy because your dog gives you the all-clear, but it might be smart to visit the doctor if he starts barking at a mole. Dogs have such charming bedside manners too, I hope to see more in doctors' offices and hospitals soon.
Read the full story from AP via Yahoo.