DJ Victor Calderone's 'Miracle Pup'
- DJ Victor Calderone was recently diagnosed with cancer, but he credits his dog Tuco for the early detection.
- Although there is much more research to be done, it is possible that dogs may have the ability to detect cancer. A study showed that three highly trained beagles were able to detect non-small cell lung cancer in blood samples with 97 percent accuracy.
- Dogs can be a huge help to owners with cancer regardless of whether or not they can actually help with early detection. Pet therapy can be a viable option for people looking to find comfort during their cancer journey.
Calderone has a deep passion for the dance music genre that he’s shared with millions of people over the course of his 20-plus year career. He is best known for his remixes the likes of which have earned him gigs with stars like Madonna, Sting and Beyoncé.
Read More“I was recently diagnosed with Cancer,” Calderone wrote. “No need for concern, I will be fine it was caught early because of Tuco. He triggered both the symptom and the awareness that I needed to go to the doctor which in turn sent me to the ER.”View this post on Instagram
Calderone did not specify his type of cancer or exactly how Tuco detected it, but it’s common knowledge that dogs possess an extraordinary sense of smell. Regardless of how it happened, Calderone credits his dog for convincing him something was off.
“This little guy came into my life for a reason,” Calderone shared. “And although we rescued him, I believe he saved me… In the words of the ER doctor ‘your dog saved your life’ Thank you Tuco I love you more than you know. You are our miracle pup.”
Can Dogs Detect Cancer?
Calderone is not the first person to claim that their dog found their cancer and he probably won’t be last. So, are the rumors true? Perhaps.
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, the answer is yes, but with some important caveats.
The study, entitled "Accuracy of Canine Scent Detection of Non-Small Cell Blood Cancer in Blood Serum," showed that three beagles (a breed with a particularly good sense of smell) were able to distinguish blood samples with non-small cell lung cancer with 97 percent accuracy after eight months of training.
But it’s important to recognize that this study used three highly-trained beagles and the fact that researchers were testing the capabilities of three specific dogs not the general ability of all dogs to sniff out cancer. Still, the results were promising, and with further research perhaps dogs could be used in a more scientific capacity for cancer detection.
Pets as Companions during a Cancer Journey
Dogs can be a huge help to owners with cancer regardless of whether or not they can actually help with early detection.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, bone cancer survivor Richard Mark told us about the positive impact therapy dogs have had on him during his chemotherapy treatment. The dogs, he said, help take his mind off of the challenges of chemotherapy.
"When I'm doing chemotherapy, I'm waiting and times going by. Maybe I'm worrying about my numbers or how [my] treatment is going. And all of the sudden a cute little dog goes by, then I'm not thinking about those things," Richard said. "I'm only thinking about that dog."
Richard Marks talks about pet therapy
Richard's pet therapy was provided by The Good Dog Foundation, an organization that promotes recovery from trauma and stress using animal-assisted therapy services. He went through chemotherapy with some love and support from a rescue dog named Bowie. Sarah Conroy, Bowie's owner, went through the Good Dog Foundation to become certified to visit hospitals with her four-legged friend. She told SurvivorNet that Bowie loved visiting his hospital friends, but for him "it's more about getting pet massages."
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