Conquering deadly diseases has been a relentless pursuit of mankind since the beginning of time and much progress has indeed been made. Medical conditions that used to mean an almost certain death are now routinely treated successfully. Many conditions that cannot be cured yet can be managed and many years can be added to the lives of patients. Billions are invested in research programs, including in stem cell treatment centers where scientists believe that bone marrow transplants will be the future of medicine.
Leukemia patients and others suffering from blood related cancer have received bone marrow transplants for some years. In most cases, however, it is done as a last resort. The idea is that the transplant will cause the growth of new bone marrow cells that will produce healthy cells after numerous cells were destroyed by chemo therapy which had an adverse effect upon the immune system.
Bone marrow transplants do not offer a cure for cancer. It is mostly performed as a last resort and can, if things go well, add some years to the life of a patient. But scientists believe that these transplants will indeed become a cure in the future, not just for blood related cancers but also many other types. Progress is very slow, however, because the research is prohibitively expensive and research must be done painstakingly.
It is not just a cure for cancer that interests researchers in bone marrow transplants. They believe that these transplants have particular promise in the reversing of damage done to brain cells. If they achieve positive results in this area, patients with brain damage or spine damage may be cured. The possibility of reversing the effects of debilitating diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer is also very exciting.
Using bone marrow transplants in order to cure many types of heart disease is also high on the agenda. Once again the hope is that these transplants will cause the growth of new cells inside the damaged heart to replace damaged and destroyed ones. Heart disease is still one of the biggest killers all over the world and progress in this direction will benefit millions of patients.
There is much controversy surrounding the whole field of research into the potential of bone marrow transplants. Critics lambast the fact that the cells being transplanted are taken from the umbilical cords of fetuses. This, they say, will become a major ethical dilemma, opening the door to the abuse of unborn human beings to save the lives of patients that can afford to pay the exorbitant fees charged for transplants.
Critics also point out that formal research results into the field of bone marrow transplants and its potential uses are particularly noticeable because there are no published results. Researchers in that field are overly optimistic at best and deliberately misleading at worst, critics say. False expectations are created and both patients and funders are being misled about the benefits that can result from further expensive research.
It does not seem as if major benefits from bone marrow transplants will be enjoyed in the near future, but one can but hope that the promises made by researchers will bear fruit in the future. It will save numerous lives. One can but hope and, if so inclined, pray.
Leukemia patients and others suffering from blood related cancer have received bone marrow transplants for some years. In most cases, however, it is done as a last resort. The idea is that the transplant will cause the growth of new bone marrow cells that will produce healthy cells after numerous cells were destroyed by chemo therapy which had an adverse effect upon the immune system.
Bone marrow transplants do not offer a cure for cancer. It is mostly performed as a last resort and can, if things go well, add some years to the life of a patient. But scientists believe that these transplants will indeed become a cure in the future, not just for blood related cancers but also many other types. Progress is very slow, however, because the research is prohibitively expensive and research must be done painstakingly.
It is not just a cure for cancer that interests researchers in bone marrow transplants. They believe that these transplants have particular promise in the reversing of damage done to brain cells. If they achieve positive results in this area, patients with brain damage or spine damage may be cured. The possibility of reversing the effects of debilitating diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer is also very exciting.
Using bone marrow transplants in order to cure many types of heart disease is also high on the agenda. Once again the hope is that these transplants will cause the growth of new cells inside the damaged heart to replace damaged and destroyed ones. Heart disease is still one of the biggest killers all over the world and progress in this direction will benefit millions of patients.
There is much controversy surrounding the whole field of research into the potential of bone marrow transplants. Critics lambast the fact that the cells being transplanted are taken from the umbilical cords of fetuses. This, they say, will become a major ethical dilemma, opening the door to the abuse of unborn human beings to save the lives of patients that can afford to pay the exorbitant fees charged for transplants.
Critics also point out that formal research results into the field of bone marrow transplants and its potential uses are particularly noticeable because there are no published results. Researchers in that field are overly optimistic at best and deliberately misleading at worst, critics say. False expectations are created and both patients and funders are being misled about the benefits that can result from further expensive research.
It does not seem as if major benefits from bone marrow transplants will be enjoyed in the near future, but one can but hope that the promises made by researchers will bear fruit in the future. It will save numerous lives. One can but hope and, if so inclined, pray.
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