Dogs Detecting Cancer: How India’s Canine Heroes Saving Lives

Imagine your dog is happily licking your face, making you feel all warm inside. But this same pup is also helping doctors find cancer. Crazy, huh? Well, new stuff from India shows it’s true. Welcome to the world of dogs detecting cancer—a breakthrough blending canine instincts with cutting-edge science from India. Meet Venus, a dog from Bengaluru who’s been specially trained to help doctors sniff out cancer by picking up smells around patients.

Let’s dive into this cool story where a dog’s awesome sense of smell meets high-tech science.

Dogs & Their Amazing Sense of Smell

People have always been wowed by how good dogs are at smelling things. They’ve helped find bombs, drugs, and missing people. Their sharp noses have saved many lives! Now, scientists are learning how they can also help find cancer.

Research says dogs can smell signs of at least 28 different diseases. Cancer cells emit odors known as volatile organic compounds.  Dogs can detect these smells even when there’s just a tiny bit. This gives us a new way to spot cancer early without needing any big tests.

(Source: Canine olfactory detection and its relevance to medical detection)

High-Tech Meets High-Scent: The Bengaluru Breakthrough

A whole lot is going on here other than a bark and a sniff. The innovation comes from a Bengaluru-based company called Ankura Dognosis, which has combined canine scent detection with modern neuroscience and artificial intelligence.

They’ve implemented a sophisticated (and quite impressive) Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) method, which consists of:

• Brain-Computer Interface (BCI): A device that reads the dog’s brain signals while it sniffs.
• Specially designed software called ‘Dagos’ that interprets the data.
• Machine learning models that analyze the response and give a final result.

This combo makes it possible to detect up to 10 types of cancer in the early stages, including even those types that are hard to catch otherwise.

How Does the Test Work?

You might be wondering—how does a dog test a person for cancer? Here’s how this new detection system works:

1. Breath Sample: The person being tested wears a special face mask for about 10 minutes. This collects their breath and other scents.
2. Sample Transfer: The mask is then sealed in a sterile kit and sent to a special laboratory where the dog is present.
3. Dog Detection: At the lab, Venus (or other trained dogs) sniffs the mask while wearing the BCI headset.
4. Brain Signal Reading: The device records Venus’s brain activity as she smells the sample.
5. Analysis: The software ‘Dagos’ processes this data using real-time AI models to determine whether there are signs of cancer in the sample.

It’s fast, non-invasive, and—most importantly—highly accurate. Reports suggest that this method has shown a 98% accuracy rate in identifying specific types of cancer.

The Young Mind Behind the Innovation

The brains behind this idea include Akash Kul God, a young thinker from Belagavi, Karnataka. He realised that a major challenge in cancer care is late diagnosis, especially in India. In many cases, people discover cancer only in its third or fourth stage, when treatment becomes very difficult.

Akash thought, “What if cancer could be caught initially?” That question led to the development of the MCED system.

He later collaborated with Itamar Biton, an expert from Israel known for his work in scent detection dog training, and brought together a team of experts in cognitive neuroscience and AI to make this vision a reality.

From Lab to Hospitals: Trials in Progress

This is no longer an experimental cancer detection technique. It’s currently being tested and used in six hospitals across Karnataka. Collaborating with the Ankura Diagnosis, these hospitals will help perfect and validate the system in actuality.

Beagles and Labradors participate in the tests. They have good noses and are nice, so they are easy to train and handle.

The group involved is also pondering how this technology can reach more hospitals and clinics outside of Karnataka and across India.

Why This Matters for India (And the World)

India, like many countries, faces serious challenges in cancer diagnosis. Without early detection, millions go undiagnosed until it’s too late—but catching it early can make all the difference.

This dog training-powered diagnosis method:

• Doesn’t require blood tests or radiation
• Is affordable
• Works faster than traditional lab tests
• Can reach rural areas with limited medical facilities

It brings hope to a country where cancer-related deaths are on the rise and where access to high-tech medical tests is often limited.

What’s Next?

The next steps include:

• Expanding to detect more diseases beyond cancer
• Training more dogs across the country
• Launching mobile test units for remote regions
• Integrating this method into public health programs

With support from both medical experts and animal trainers, this initiative has the potential to change how we diagnose diseases, not just in India, but around the world.

 Final Thoughts

We’ve long known that dogs are man’s best friend. Now, thanks to science, they’re becoming life-saving heroes in the fight against cancer. The work being done by Venus and the team at Ankura Dognosis is a perfect example of innovation, compassion, and cross-species collaboration.

It’s not just science fiction anymore—your breath could tell you if you’re healthy, and a dog could be the one to deliver the news.

Reference link:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dogs-sniff-out-cancer/