One of the primary dangers of ovarian cancer is with the lack of early detection. As a result, researchers are looking for possible detection techniques in all manner of places, some of them highly unusual. A report on Consumer Affairs tells of new research that shows that dogs have the ability to detect cancer by sense of smell.

1. Dogs Used To Detect Ovarian
Cancer In Early Stages

2. One of the primary dangers of ovarian
cancer is with the lack of early detection.
As a result, researchers are looking for
possible detection techniques in all
manner of places, some of them highly
unusual. A report on Consumer Affairs
tells of new research that shows that
dogs have the ability to detect cancer by
sense of smell.

3. What a group of researchers have found
that a dog’s sense of smell alongside
DNA analysis as means of detecting
ovarian cancer in its early stages. The
dogs were trained within a laboratory
setting to smell for cancer, receiving a
reward upon successful detection.
Material known as volatile organic
compounds (VOC), or odorants are
changed in the early stages of ovarian
cancer. Trained dogs working in tandem
with electronic detection devices have
been able to pick upon these odorants
in very small quantities.
The dogs trained in detection have a
90% accuracy rate, and with their ability
to find odorants at such a low level
makes them very valuable for early
detection. Ovarian cancer is the fourth
most common cause of cancer death
among women, but with early diagnosis,
the survival rate is more than 90% over

4. a 5-year period. With more 80% of
patients being diagnosed in the late
stages, all forms of detection can be a
valuable weapon towards fighting the
disease.
The research is an ongoing project
between the Working Dog Center at the
University of Pennsylvania’s School of
Veterinary Medicine, the physics and
astronomy departments at Penn as well
as the school’s Gynecologic Oncology
division.