Stem cell treatment abroad

[super1]

Has anyone ever taken stem cell treatment abroad? They give you injections of stem cell and say there is improvement over 6 months. Has anyone ever travelled abroad to do this?

[honeycombe3]

What stem cell treatment for what condition? I ask this because stem cell technology is advancing rapidly on many fronts & is in use in UK for a number of conditions. I have not had any stem cell treatment but I am in a clinical trial which may result in a transplant.

[Pete-1]

There was someone on this forum who did - went to China I think. I am unable to remember his user name. I also have difficulty remembering his outcome.As \i remember ot now he reported feeling better for a short term, i.e. a couple of weeks but then the effect began to diminish. And it wasn't cheap either.

Lets hope he sees this thread and wants to tell the full story more accurately than my memory has allowed.

[mistydog1 in reply to Pete-1]

Hi Pete

There has been some great success with stem cells Micheal J Fox for example. The problem that comes up with stem cells is first is the cost to the average person, The second is the delivery systems available of the cells to the exact spot in the brain science still has some work to do on that. The most significant issue as we all know that stem cell are not program cells . So to directing them for a specific action such as replacing specifically the deficient dopamine cells technology just isn't there yet but it won't be long.

[Pete-1 in reply to mistydog1]

If Stem Cell treatments are to work that still does not cure PD at source. In which case regular if infrequent administering of the stem cell culture would be required.

[mistydog1 in reply to Pete-1]

If multiple treatments are required and it still doesn't cure ones PD then what would be the advantage of stem cells vs DBS. Maybe the advantage may come if ones PD was brought on by exposure to enviromental factor or chemical exposure the application may be enough to correct the damage cells. Don't know!! It would make for an interesting study though.

[PatV in reply to mistydog1]

DBS is major brain surgery and requires constant fiddling. But I don't know either

[Pete-1 in reply to mistydog1]

It would be like a leaky bucket. Giving Stem Cell treatment would fill up the bucket but gradually the still active PD would serve to empty it again

So long as the leak is only very small such that the next treatment may not be required for say 10 years then I would hope that Stem Cell treatment would be superior to DBS as, again hopefully, this treatment would be more profound.

Anyway it seems that either way it will be a while before Stem Cell treatments are made reliable effctive and safe. As with gene therapy I believe there are risks of promoting cancers.

It is easy to envisage stem cells that may grow to take on any form of tissue in the body as the right chemical messageis sent to e.g. grow into a bit of lung tissue or whichever, becoimg out of control and going metastaic with secondary tumours all over he place.

One hopes I have overstated the case.

[super1]

Thanks for the replies, I was talking Parkinsons disease. Had a expensive offer that it might work in China and Mexico.

[mistydog1 in reply to super1]

I guess you'd have to do some research as to who approves and regulates the methods being used in those countries. Good luck !

[Pete-1 in reply to super1]

Yes expensive. The gentleman I mentioned in an earlier post who went to China for treatment was charged something like $34,000.

[Pete-1 in reply to Pete-1]

And there was a company in Germany (X-Cell - I think) also prematurely offing stem cell treatment. I believe they were obliged to close down their laboratory due to their unethical approach, only a few months ago.

[Jash]

DBS buys you time when you just have to do something sooner than later

[super1]

The research I have done. Is that the ones in Europe are offering stem cells made from your bone marrow, which is then injected back in you via lumbar puncture. The ones in Mexico and China are using stem cells with Ectoderm cells being the preferred part of them being used.

[munchybunch in reply to super1]

Have you any more recent information on stem cell research pls

[Routine100]

My wife had stem cell treatment from a Doctor in Germany. I do not think it worked. The Doctor used stem cells from my wife and injected them back into the body. We were hoping they repair her Parkinson damaged brain cells.