Cancer is regarded as a significant contributor to global mortality. If cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, it can be treated successfully. The existing cancer screening techniques are either invasive or prohibitively expensive. It is therefore imperative that a non-invasive and low-cost method of diagnosing cancer at an early stage is developed. The use of artificial nose devices that mimic the olfactory system of mammals represents a promising avenue for medical diagnosis. In recent years, we have developed arrays of fluorescent nanomaterials that are capable of simulating the receptors of the olfactory system. The nanomaterials have demonstrated considerable promise as a sensing platform, exhibiting high sensitivity. However, they exhibit low selectivity, demonstrating cross-reactivity towards a range of analogous chemical compounds. The use of a panel of cross-reactive fluorescent nanomaterials allows for the generation of a specific signal pattern for each chemical species, thereby enabling the analysis of complex samples. Artificial nose devices were fabricated using a paper-based platform, with the deposition of small amounts of metallic nanoclusters or carbon quantum dots. The devices are capable of detecting the odor of biological samples (VOCs), including blood, urine and exhaled breath, and can distinguish between individuals with and without cancer. In consequence, our devices are designed to operate on the basis of liquid or gas biopsies, which are classified among non-invasive or minimally invasive methods. The devices were employed to diagnose leukemia in children and hematologic malignancy in adults by measuring the VOCs emitted from the surface of blood. Additionally, the analysis of VOCs in the headspace of urine samples enabled the identification of colon and stomach cancers. Furthermore, the method is capable of detecting lung cancer through the analysis of VOCs in exhaled breath. The portability, low cost, and high speed of our devices make them ideal candidates for the rapid screening of cancer.