[NStewart]

Heal by Arlene Weintraub

by NStewart on Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:56 pm

This is a little different book from those that have been recommended so far. It is about the use of companion animals in cancer clinical trials. Dogs develop the same cancers as humans and are being used for research into the development of new cancer drugs. Because the dogs live in the same environments as we do, they are good subjects for research. There was one mention of some research that is being done in multiple myeloma in dogs as well as humans. Some of the research is being done prior to using humans and some being done at the same time that human trials are being done.

The last few chapters of the book are devoted to the training and use of dogs in identifying cancer in people. For the cancers that have few indications prior to being in advanced stages, e.g. ovarian and pancreatic cancers, this may provide a good way of identifying the cancers in earlier stages.

I found this book really interesting in that our companion animals are being included in research to help them with their naturally developing cancers and in helping us. This is a relatively easy read for the person who doesn't have a science background.

The author became interested in researching the topic after the death of her sister from stomach cancer. She is a well known journalist who did a lot of one on one interviews with the people who are the leaders in this developing line of cancer research.

Nancy in Phila