When we think of cancer, we picture a silent threat within the body, but what if cancer had a smell? Strange as it may sound, there’s growing research that suggests some cancers might emit odors—although not in the way you’d expect. It’s not like you can just walk past someone and smell cancer; it’s a bit more complex and fascinating than that. Let’s explore how cancer could potentially produce odors, how treatments affect body smells, and even how dogs might be better at detecting cancer than humans.
The Science of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
First off, cancer doesn’t have a scent like your morning coffee or a bouquet of flowers. What makes this topic intriguing is the role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—chemical substances released during biological processes in the body. Cancer cells exhibit distinct growth patterns compared to healthy cells, leading to the release of VOCs through breath, sweat, urine, and other bodily fluids.
One group of compounds often linked to cancer smells are polyamines. Cancerous cells exhibit higher levels of these compounds due to their rapid multiplication. While humans generally can’t smell these compounds, trained machines or dogs might be able to detect them, which could lead to future diagnostic breakthroughs.
Can Humans Smell Cancer?
So, do people actually smell cancer? While some individuals claim they’ve noticed a distinct odor on themselves or loved ones before a diagnosis, this isn’t a universal experience. Most of the time, cancer doesn’t emit a smell that humans can detect. That said, in cases where a tumor causes ulcers or infections, it may lead to foul-smelling bodily odors. For instance, cancer-related ulcers can create an environment for bacteria to thrive, and that’s where the smell often comes from—not the cancer itself.
In some cases, advanced cancers might cause noticeable body changes, but these are typically signs of complications rather than the disease itself. For most people, cancer remains odorless unless there are other factors at play, such as infections or treatment effects.
