Stem cell treatment

[Everlasting]

Hello, CCStan
     Thank you for your post in which you ask about the availability of stem cell therapy.  Victor (my partner and an individual with end stage kidney function) will be leaving in 10 days for McAllen, Texas.......we will stay there for about four days to make sure there are no procedure complications.  We will be crossing the US and Mexico border at McAllen and attend the clinic where the procedure is done in Neuvo Progresso (Mexico).  The distance between these to is a 5 minute walk between communities.
     To my knowledge there is no location where this can be done in the US or Canada.  When I ask why this is so the answer depends upon who you are asking.  The clinic we have been connecting with is that of the International Stem Cell Institute and we are very pleased with the support they have been giving from the moment we touched basis with them.  The rate is 10 thousand dollars and in the case of my brother and Victor local communities have come together to financial support this medical tourism.  The same procedures in Germany are 40 thousand, India 100 thousand and I am unsure what the fee is in Japan.
     Stem cells from the placenta of a newborn is the source of the material required.  I have insistent that the stem cells I received (for neurological issues) are that of a child born by cesearan section.
     Funding for the needed research is hard to come by --- one would expect that the Goliaths in this field would be pharmaceuticals however that is not the case.  I expect that the answer as to why they are not supporting this science in it's infancy lies within the boundaries of the medications individuals who are unwell are required to purchase.
     I do get some satisfaction knowing that the stem cell implantation in the clinic we will attend has been using stem cell therapy for 19 years....a great statistic for skeptics and researches.  I have not, to date, found a testimoney that indicates any ill effects from the procedure.
     I can hardly wait to return from this joruney to report that stem cells have re-energized my partner's failing kidneys.  The filtering sysstem in the kidneys that so not function will not be revived -- instead, the stem cell provides the benefit of significantly increasing the function of existing filters.
    Because the therapy addresses filters that have some function it is important for an individual in ESKD to act ASAP - while there maybe some function lieft.
    My partner has been reassured that his kidney function will rise to 50% function.
     The entire procedure from start to completion lasts 40 minutes --- can you imagine putting forth 40 minutes of your time and by doing so have the potential to not need a transplant or dialysis.
     I would be neglectful to say that this process is not for everyone !
    I was informed yesterday that Canada now has three stem cell storage centers --- this news translates to the fact that stem cell therapy is not just a fade and for that matter we can breath a little easier knowing that stem cell therapy will be available to the children of our generation if not sooner.
Will keep you posted.
Everlasting


EDITED: Merged multiple topics and threads. May result in some duplication as no posts were deleted.
okarol/admin

[kristina]

Hello, Everlasting,

do you know of any published results on this stem-cell-therapy in medical journals?
I have heard that the latest information by respective researchers is,
that the stem-cells should only be taken from the individual having the treatment,
as the risk is very great, taking stem-cells from another human being.
This does not refer to any kidney-treatment, I believe
it only is concerned with certain types of cancer.
Have you got any more up-to-date-information?
Thanks Kristina.

[Hanify]

One of the therapies for the cancer I have is stem cell therapy.  They used to take the stem cells from someone else, but now have worked out a way to take the stem cells from your own body.  This has a much higher chance of sucess.  They blast you with chemotherapy and kill all the cells, then put the saved opnes back in to start again. That's all I know about it.  And I know they won't do it with me cos of the kidney failure - becasue they don't want to rick making me that sick.  What Everlasting and her husband are doing is different again.

[cariad]

Kristina, if you do an Internet search for "cord blood" you will see what research has been done in the US with placental cells. I do not have a university account anymore, but some journal articles are freely available over the Internet. As I mentioned in another of Everlasting's threads, I have banked cord blood for both of my children, having spent roughly $5000 to date on it, and gave my reasoning in the other thread. What Hanify is talking about is the type of stem cell therapy I am getting - adult stem cells.

I researched the use of banked cord blood recently when I was told that two individuals who underwent a similar (but not identical) procedure to the one I am about to receive ended up with early stages of leukemia. What I discovered is that cord blood has been used to treat this leukemia, but is actually inferior to a perfect match adult stem cell transplant. The success rate from the articles I read said that about 50% of leukemia patients went into remission with a perfectly matched bone marrow or stem cell transplant, while a non-matched stem cell transplant and cord blood had about the same success rate at 30%.

Here is a list of what current, US cord blood banking centers say can be treated (not cured) with cord blood. This is not the bank I used. http://www.cordblood.com/cord_blood_banking_with_cbr/banking/diseases_treated.asp?fbid=uO1WuWjBlbD
Please note that kidney failure is not on the list.

There is absolutely no guarantee - I am sorry to be blunt, but if this doctor guaranteed any success, he is lying.

[kristina]

Thank you for that detailed and honest reply, Hanify and cariad.
It supports the findings I have so far read &
I wish you the very best of luck, if you decide on any treatment.

Best wishes from Kristina. 

[Everlasting]

     I enter this post on behalf of my partner who experiences end stage renal failure.  Approx. two weeks ago we traveled from the Atlantic coast of Canada (Nova Scotia) to the community of McAllen, Texas which is situated at the Mexico border.  At that location (Neuvo Progresso) we attended a stem cell clinic for the purpose of receiving stem cells --- a process that took all of 45 minutes.
     We now wait to see the results of the function increase and will have levels tested in about 2 weeks time for the good news.
     This message is sent from Florida -- a location that we felt we could best rest and allow the stem cells to reach their maximum potential.
     If anyone has an interest in this treatment choice .... we would be more than happy to share the experience.
In Wellness - Everlasting     

[Everlasting]

Hello, Folks:  My partner and I have made the pilgrimage (sp ?) to the border town of McAllen , Texas for the purpose of receiving stem cells at a clinic across the border at McAllen - Neuvo Progresso.  It is a clinic that has been providing this choice of treatment for the past 19 years.

The actual procedure took all of 45 minutes and there was lots of time for a pre-procedure consultation and a post-procedure consultation.

We now await for the stem cells to become active in the system.  A kidney function level determination will be done in the weeks ahead.

If a loved one is comtemplating this treatment of choice.....we would be most willing to pass on some tips to make the process as easy as possible.
In Wellness --- Everlasting

[galvo]

Interesting! Best wishes and, yes, I would like to hear how everything goes.

[Sunny]

I hope it works. Good luck and keep us posted.

[calypso]

Sounds like a scam to me. Hope you don't get ripped off, or worse, ripped apart. If you could reverse renal failure with stem cells it would be all over the news by now not done in some back door alley in Mexico. But good luck to you anyway, you look like you need it.

[Jean]

Sure do hope it works for you. Please keep us posted. I for one am very interested in hearing more about this.

[KICKSTART]

I will be watching with interest so please do post ! There is a Professor over here called Robert Winston who is working on stem cell treatments (he was one of the top ones that invented IVF and look at the results for that !) Also one of the senior nurses on my unit has a friend that is being treated for cancer using stem cell therapy and says all is looking good! I hope you do get a breakthrough , no matter how small it will be a start ! 

[looneytunes]

I am sure hoping that this works out for you all.  Keep us posted.   

[okarol]

I hope everything works out for you both. 

[boswife]

will be wonderful if this works for you. Wishing you all the best...

[Sunny]

I wish you well. Tell us how it goes.

[billybags]

Everlasting, fingers, legs all crossed for you, I so wish that this will work for you, please let us know.

[Yvonne]

I too wish you all the best of luck, what a break through if it works.   

[Everlasting]

Hello My Friends:  My partner (with End Stage Renal Failure) and I are back home after a trip to the McAllen, Texas/Mexico border for stem cell treatment.  The wait now begins and up to this  point my partner has every reason to expect positive outcomes in terms of kidney function.  We will keep you posted as the numbers come in.
     I do not wish to speak for my partner on this one as it is such an incredible personal issue.  I will however share with you that the benefits the stem cells provided me increase by the day.  I was treated for a neurological condition and the effect on my balance was idebilitating.  This is now clearing. I don't know if it will enable me to put aside my wheelchair however hope is high!  Additionally, two diagnoses were discovered in the diagnostic process of measuring internal energy fields.
      To my astonishment I was found to have a partially blocked vertebral artery at the level of the neck and a heart condition by the name of "cardiomyopathy".  I have every reason to think these can be treated. The stem cells have already made a difference in the cardiomyopathy --- a condition my identical twin died from about five years ago and the reason I was given was that it was caused by "heart failure".  For the past five years I have been haunted by her death as our history has always been iin keeping with the fact that we were idenical twins --- her fate will not be my experience as it has been caught in time.
Everlasting.
 

[Romona]

Please keep us updated on the progress. Best Wishes to you both. 

[Jean]

Yes, please do keep us posted, this is interesting. And, of course, Good Luck to both of you. 

[Everlasting]

My Friends:  We have been there, did it, done it !!!

       Sorry for the long silence.  We have been to Texas/Mexico for stem cell therapy and wanted a little time before we announced the outcome.  I AM SO, SO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MY PARTNER'S EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN A VERY POSITIVE ONE.  HIS KIDNEY FUNCTION LEVEL IS ON THE RISE AND HE HAS BEEN TOLD HE CAN EXPECT EVEN MORE INPROVEMENT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS !!!

If anyone is interested in going this route -- I would be happy to pass on some tips.  I would urge you to give it some serious thought despite not knowing if and how long improvements will last.  Even if you get a year out of the benefits - I would think it worthwhile.

Will keep you posted as the months pass.

As one can imagine the greatest obstacle to this approach is the costs.  In the community which we live there are several organizations that will help organize and promote fundraisers for the purpose of this therapy.  Once again if this is your barrier to wellness -- I would be happy to pass on any information or experiences we have encountered.
All of you have been very much on our minds and it has been hard to know just what to do in announcing the stem cell outcome.  We would be agast if what we experienced would end up being false hope for you.  It was "hope" that kept us on the path.  What ever you do always remember the benefits are unique to each individual.

The reason for stem cell therapy for myself was not kidney related but for neurological problems --- my experience to any benefits has been much less that of my partner's who is now being told that he can expect his function to rise to 50%

CELEBRATE WITH US and SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THIS NEW SCIENCE IN IT'S INFANCY --- there are risks and no guarantees !!

IN WELLNESS - EVERLASTING


EDITED: Merged the two topics - Rerun, Moderator

[Everlasting]

My Dear Friends:  sorry for the long silence however we did not want to rush into making the announcement that my partner's stem cell therapy worked and his kidney function numbers continue to be very positive.  He has been informed that there is time left from the stem cells to provide even further progress.
     I still find it hard to believe that it is all behind us now.  One physician stated that my partner will not have a need for dialysis or transplant during his life time (he is 68 years young).
     Our one fear in making this announcement is that it has the potential to provide you with false hope should you consider going this route.  Every individual responds in his own way and it is not known how long it will last however we are encouraged with the words from the physican who spoke to the fact that my partner will not require dialysis or transplant in his life time ---- he is 68 years young and good years ahead of him.
     About 4 days after the procedure he did come down with symptoms of the flu and we wonder that it was indeed not the flu but a "foreign body reaction" from the stem cells i.e. the symptoms could have well been a stem cell rejection issue.....that too has past and now we can move ahead in every aspect of our lives together.
Please know that I/we are most willing to provide you with answers to any questions you might have on this subject and our experience.
In Wellness
Everlasting  -  join our CELEBRATION and accept any help we can pass on to you

[Phraxis]

What do stem cells do to improve the function of failing kidneys?

[Everlasting]

My Dear Friends:  It is our pleasure to make the announcement that my partner's stem cell therapy was a great success !!  We have remained silent up to this point as we would be devastated if we were to find ourselves passing on false hope.  In actual fact "hope" is what enabled us to make this leap.

I have additional information on the General Discussion Board that might interest you.

As I have mentioned, stem cell therapy is not for everyone.  It's benefits are unique to each individual.  To sum up our excitement a statement by one physician summed up our reason to celebrate.  He stated that my partner will not require dialysis or transplant in his lifetime (he is 68 years young at this point).  The physician's statement brought us  back to reality and painted the landscape that we can hope for.  My partner received the stem cells on 3 March 2010 and began noticing an increase in energy about 7 - 10 days post procedure.  He has since been informed that there will be on-going benefits over the next two months.  The goal is to gain enough function to bring his function level up to 50%

Should you  be considering this therapy we would be most willing to share any information we have.  The greatest deterent is the cost......in this corner of the planet the kind, friendly, compassionate and generous communities pull together and send "their own" out of the province for whatever treatment they require.
Please know that the encouragement and support you have provided pre procedure truly made a significant difference in our strength to achieve this therapy.
Lovingly - Everlasting (Melanie)