@AnnieBuddy @JoBlakely @anna_lillith well, not just that. They also detect cancer and pre-cancer which is, yknow, deadly.
Yep, the instruments suck. And people are finally being given the funds to do the work needed to improve them.
But personally I'd rather have the occasional unpleasant appointment than cancer treatment that might not work because I wasn't diagnosed early enough.
Sadly boobs and cervices don't dangle conveniently like testicles..!
@noodlemaz @AnnieBuddy @anna_lillith
Dogs could be trained to detect by smell. They are always sticking their noses there. It’d be way nicer if you went to the dogtor. Less invasive and not painful. Plus cuteness. Pay in dog treats. lol. I’ve heard they can detect with more accuracy even by breath.
Why not train more dognostics.
You can get a second opinion with another dog and then choose a more invasive course of action after.
I am serious about this.
@JoBlakely @AnnieBuddy @anna_lillith mmnope, sadly, dogs would not be a reliable way to detect breast cancer early. Though you're right it would be more fun (for everyone who isn't allergic/phobic anyway)
https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2009/02/03/can-dogs-detect-the-smell-of-cancer/
Screening needs to have a low false negative (tells you no cancer when you have it) and false positive (tells you you have cancer when you don't) rate and need to be accurate. Research is happening to see what dogs can do (which is very cool), but it's not a practical or feasible population screening method at all.
Lots of work happening to make screening tests like smears and mammograms better though!
[Updated below with information about a new UK clinical trial to see if dogs can aid in the detection of prostate, kidney and bladder tumours, 10/08/15 KA] Our four-legged friends have a range of impressive skills. They can lead the blind, rescue people up mountains, and find the tiniest traces of explosives. But can they […]
Marianne
Jo - pièce de résistance