Hello all

Just wanted to let you know that our film, "Can Dogs Smell Cancer?" airs on BBC4 at 9pm on Sunday November 6th, and again on Wednesday 9th, also at 9pm.

Two years in the making and boasting unique access to new scientific trials, Can Dogs Smell Cancer? is the first ever in-depth look at dogs' ability to detect cancer in humans.

The documentary reveals, exclusively, the results of an astonishing new scientific study that suggests the dog could be better at diagnosing cancer than current technology. It also includes footage of a pet dog spontaneously alerting her owner to a potential cancer - something never captured on camera before - and powerful personal testimony from other owners who believe their dogs have saved their lives.

Also featured in the film is a new study which shows the dogs to be able to detect chemicals diluted to one part per trillion, the equivalent of one pinch of salt on 10,000 tons of potato chips.  That's between 10,000 and 100,000 times better than humans.

Hope you can watch - and for those without Sky or a freeview set, the film will show on BBC2 in a few months' time.

Oh, and our own dog, flatcoat Pi, gets a brief cameo in the film!

Jemima

Ah, ha so that is why you want us to watch it! A famous Pi!!

But seriously, it sounds extremely interesting and I don't doubt it, that it is 100% true, our dogs are amazing animals.  I was brought up with the old wives tail (which may not after all have been one) that when a cat senses a terminal illness it will leave it's owner and find an alternative residance. (My grandmother bless her soul said that was why her cat left her............. it may have got run over though, whose to know.) But I shall take great pleasure in watching the programme.  Dogs as we know have a much more heightened sense than ourselves, it will be very interesting!

I personally will be watching with avid interest, 2 years ago my weimaraner alerted me to a lump which turned out to be a very agressive rare cancer, she saved my life!
Thanks for alerting us to the program
regards
Pauline

Pauline, did you let anyone know? Dr John Church is collating all the anecdotal stories and I am sure would love to know of your case, if he doesn't already. My email is jem@jemimaharrison.co.uk and I'd be happy to forward any email on to him.

Jemima

Same here I will be watching, as my soulmate Border Terrier made sure I knew there was a lump in my breast 5 years ago, which made me go to my GP which in turn resulted in me undergoing a mastectomy.

He is my hero.

Jayne

I certainly believe in it!  Not had the experience myself re. cancer but there are some things that definitely make you think.

Im not a believer , although i saw a show where a dog constantly pawed and nipped at its owners breast and it turned out to be breast cancer.

This is of great interest to me and I will be avidly watching the programme ;)

My 46 yr old Stepmother died earlier this year of Cancer. She had a very aggressive breast tumour and secondaries in her bones and brain.

Her dog who was completely devoted to her before diagnosis, gradually became more and more distant until he wouldn't even sit near her. Whenever the rest of the family were out, he would shut himself off in another room and not reappear until the rest of the family came home. He wouldn't even take food from her.

Whenever I took my dogs there to visit, my eldest boy, who has never really been interested in her before, used to put his head on her chest and sniff constantly around her breast until he was physically taken away from her.  He would systematically go through her hair and around her face. The interesting thing was, he did the head and face before her Consultant diagnosed the tumours in her brain and eye.

Not that this is probably relevant, but our bitch who was 6 months old at the time and a complete hyperactive, typical pup who would never sit still, used to climb up onto her bed, snuggle in and lay very quietly beside her, we all agreed that she definitely knew Nicole was ill as it was so out of character for the pup to do it. She has never been the same with anyone else since.

Did anyone read the Dobermann breed notes a few weeks ago in Dog World where the dog kept poking the owner in his eye and dislodged something - on going to the optician the owner was sent to Moorfields where he had his eye removed beause of cancer.

Is it certain breeds more than others that have this intuition? I have heard about this before but have never had experience of it. I will deffinately be watching

That is really interesting,i'll definately be watching this program.Several months ago i was at a breeder of german shepherds house when the male kept rather embarrassingly paying a lot of attention to my right breast(the dog im talking about lol),he just kept sniffing it lol,my own dogs,also gsd's have done the same too,i also have rottweilers but havent noticed them do it,i do think gsd's are more tuned in to their owners.Hopefully it isnt a sign of something sinister but i have over the years been referred 3 times to the breast clinic,strangely enough each time regarding my right breast.I shall be watching with great interest.

well our sheltie hasnt diagnosed anything but my uncle died last saturday night and i jokingly said "look after grandma" ie my mum - we took him round there and he lay right by her he wouldnt go for a walk or anything because he sensed that something was wrong