FIDO REALLY IS YOUR BEST FRIEND if you might have colon cancer !!

I just love dogs and their sense of smell

<SNIP> < 50%

A recent report in the medical journal, Gut, found that a trained Labrador retriever was smarter than doctors in diagnosing large bowel cancer. With a sniff of a stool the trained Fido was able to diagnose this malignancy.

Researchers collected stool samples from 48 patients who had colon cancer and 258 healthy volunteers. Stools were placed in plastic containers covered by perforated lids. A Labrador retriever was trained in the same way as those used to spot explosives and drugs, to sit down when he detected cancer in a container. The Lab provided the correct diagnosis in 98 per cent of the cancer specimens. He even made the right diagnosis in patients with early malignancy that is often hard to detect by colonoscopy.

This accuracy is an example of how to embarrass doctors in one easy lesson. How many cancer specialists would be willing to sniff pooh and accept a slight reward for diagnosing colon cancer, the chance to play with a tennis ball? Small wonder that Fido is man's best friend.

correct diagnosis in 98 per cent of the cancer specimens. He even made the right diagnosis in patients with early malignancy that is often hard to detect by colonoscopy.

This accuracy is an example of how to embarrass doctors in one easy lesson. How many cancer specialists would be willing to sniff pooh and accept a slight reward for diagnosing colon cancer, the chance to play with a tennis ball? Small wonder that Fido is man's best friend.

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