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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

EndNotes

Man’s best friend? more than ever

German researchers report that specially-trained dogs can now detect lung cancer – more accurately than a CT scan – by sniffing patients' breath. How do they do it?

“Lung cancer patients breathed into glass tubes that contained fleece to capture the odors of the specific organic compounds scientists theorized were associated with the onset and progression of lung cancer,” reports the Schillerhoehe study.

Dogs are trained to sniff many odors – drug dealers who try to smuggle their heroin can tell you that. Perhaps we ought to look at our canine friends with more respect and seek to use their natural talents to detect our deadly enemies.



Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.