Re: stem cell
Hi I haven't visited for a while, my husband has ALS, he was diagnosed 5 years ago, he has a combination of bulbar and upper body progression. He is holding on...... At any rate, he took part in a study a few years ago that wasn't just in Toronto, it was right here in Vancouver. He had cells from his body removed and treated and then reinjected all at once. This was the first phase or 'toxicity' study. The purpose of the study was just to see if any harm would come to the recipients of the treatment - basically if it didn't kill the study subjects, they could move on. No harm was done (no help either, though they said not to expect it to do anything) and the results were put in a report which went to the reserach/funding people to prepare for the next phase of clinical trials. As with everything else, it takes a lot of money to get these things happening but I understand that the next phase will be starting next year..... don't quote me on that because since my husband has progressed further, he is not a viable candidate for the next phase. There is alot of hope with stem cell research - it's just a question of time - unfortunately we're not sure if my man has that kind of time. Hope that sheds a little light. By the way, let me add my voice to the others - DO NOT listen to the 'cures' on the internet or whereever. The ALS professionals community know more about treatments/cures than anyone and they will be the first to tell you - not the internet. Too many people are giving wrong information out there and it does nothing but harm.
Holly