1. Cancer overview
a. Cancer statistics
b. Modifiable cancer risk factors
i. Physical activity
c. Cancer-related symptoms
i. Psychological distress
1. Mood disorders
2. Stress
3. Isolation and loneliness
4. Significance of stress and isolation on cancer progression
ii. Fatigue
iii. Pain
1. Impact of cancer pain
d. Complementary cancer treatment
i. Therapy dogs in cancer care
e. Summary
2. Introduction to therapy dogs
a. Animal-assisted therapy vs animal-assisted activities
i. Example of successful animal-assisted therapy for cancer patients
b. Differentiating working dogs: therapy dog vs service dog
c. Medical studies evaluating benefits from therapy dog visits
i. Limitations with therapy dog studies
ii. Patient benefits from therapy dog visits
1. Mood enhancement
2. Pain relief
3. Loneliness reduction
iii. Benefits for patient supporters and caregivers
d. Physiological impact from dog visits
i. Neurochemical changes
ii. Immune markers
iii. Stress response
e. Ethics of dog therapy
i. Physiological changes in dogs working as therapy dogs
f. Summary
3. Dogs as cancer detectors
a. Medical alert dogs
i. Companion dogs alerting to cancer
ii. Dogs trained to alert doctors to cancer
b. Olfactory ability of dogs
c. Explaining the physiology of cancer sniffing
i. Volatile gas detection in lung cancer
1. Detecting lung cancer using smellprints
ii. Volatile gas detection in breast cancer
iii. Volatile gas detection in skin cancer
iv. Volatile gas detection in brain cancer
d. Experimental studies testing cancer-detection abilities in dogs
i. Lung and breast cancer
ii. Bladder cancer iii. Prostate cancer
iv. Colorectal cancer
v. Ovarian cancer
e. Summary
4. Dog therapy with cancer treatment
a. Overview of therapy dog impact in cancer care
i. Prospective research
ii. Anecdotal reports
b. Therapy dog visits when coping with a cancer diagnosis
c. Therapy dog visits during inpatient care
i. Therapy dogs for inpatient pediatric cancer treatment
ii. Therapy dogs can make a home away from home
d. Therapy dog visits before testing or treatment
e. Therapy dog visits during chemotherapy
f. Therapy dog visits during end-of-life and hospice care
i. End-of-life support for secondary survivors
g. Therapy dogs relieve staff stress
i. Example of indirect patient benefits from changes in staff and patient visitors
h. Summary
5. Adding therapy dogs to your cancer treatment team
a. Establishing a therapy dog program
i. Model oncology therapy dog program
ii. Recommendations for making visits
b. Identifying appropriate dogs
i. Breed, size, and age requirements
ii. Therapy dog sixth sense
c. Guidelines for dog-handler teams
d. Selecting appropriate patient candidates for visits
e. Infection precautions with therapy dogs
i. Human colonization with MRSA
ii. Infection transmission between humans and pets
iii. Minimizing spread of infection between dogs and humans
iv. Visiting patients in intensive care or isolation
f. Example of a typical therapy dog visit during cancer care
g. Successful programs caring for cancer with therapy dogs
i. Cancer Caring Center at the University of Pittsburgh
ii. Pets at Duke
iii. Angel Foundation's Kids Kamp
h. Summary
6. Incorporating companion dogs into cancer rehab: emotional support
a. Overview of companion dogs' role during cancer treatment
b. Dogs relieve stress
i. Cardiovascular reactivity decreases with companion dogs
ii. Therapy dog visits reduce stress for patients and their caregivers
c. Dogs can provide emotional and social support
i. Cancer patients may feel emotionally isolated from human support network
ii. Companion dogs as social capital
iii. Companion dogs can provide unwavering support
d. Summary
7. Incorporating companion dogs into cancer rehab: benefits from physical exercise for cancer patients
a. Quantifying exercise level
b. Prevention benefits from exercise
c. Benefits of physical exercise after a cancer diagnosis
i. Reduced symptoms
1. Fatigue
ii. Improved quality of life
iii. Improved survival
d. Feasibility
i. Lymphedema after breast cancer surgery with axillary node dissection
e. Walking for cancer patients
i. Walking exercise reduces symptoms
ii. Walking exercise improves survival
iii. Prescribing a walking program during cancer recovery
1. Dog walking improves exercise adherence
2. Healthy hydration
f. Summary
8. Incorporating companion dogs into cancer rehab: dog-themed exercise program for cancer patients
a. Exercise prescription for cancer patients
b. Why include a companion dog in an exercise program?
c. Dog-themed exercise program designed for cancer patients and survivors
i. Stretching exercises
1. Upper body leash exercises
2. Lower body leash exercises
3. Neck stretching
4. Back stretches
5. Exercise with dog toys
ii. Balance exercises
iii. Strengthening exercises
iv. Exercises for lymphedema
v. Aerobic exercise
d. Summary
9. Incorporating companion dogs into cancer rehab: practical tips for adding a dog into the home during cancer treatment and recovery
a. Considerations before adding a companion dog
b. Choosing an appropriate dog
c. Taking advantage of dog-related benefits when adding a companion dog is not appropriate
d. Expectations for therapeutic benefits
e. Summary
10. Resources
a. Internet resources
i. Therapy dog organizations
ii. American Kennel Club therapy dog certification
iii. Service dog organizations
b. Exercise instructions for cancer patients
c. Books
i. Complementary medicine during cancer care
ii. Therapy dog books
1. Therapy dog training books
2. Therapy dog books for children
iii. Healing power of companion pets
1. Books for adding a companion dog into the home
iv. Exercising with your dog
