#cancer-diagnosis

#cancer-diagnosis

A pathologist studies an extremely thin slice of human tissue under a microscope, searching for visual signs that reveal whether cancer is present and, if so, what type and stage it has reached. To a trained specialist, examining a pink, swirling tissue sample dotted with purple cells is like grading a test without a name on it -- the slide contains vital information about the disease, but it offers no clues about who the patient is.

Dog: Smelled some organic compounds on his breath. Picked up traces of blood in his stool. It's either cancer or the worst case of Happy-Tail Syndrome I've ever seen. Doctor B: I don't buy it. I want a full workup. Blood, imaging. Dog: While you do that, I'll do a full workup on a hair ball the size of a colostomy bag. Tomorrow, I'll still be right and there's a good chance your patient will be dead.

Billy, a beagle, is trained to detect cancer by sniffing used surgical masks, as cancer alters a person’s unique scent profile through volatile organic compounds.

To everyone who's been part of my journey so far, I have some difficult news to share: I've been diagnosed with cancer. It's been a lot to take in, but I've already started treatment and I'm incredibly grateful to be surrounded by the love and support of my family and close friends.