Gordie Howe's Stem Cell Treatment Brings 'Miraculous' Results
Source: The Huffington Post
Gordie Howe's family says the hockey great has made a dramatic improvement after he participated in a stem cell clinical trial.The 86-year-old Howe had a serious stroke in late October, but in a statement released through the Detroit Red Wings on Friday, his family said his physical therapists have been "astonished" by his progress.
"The treatment included neural stem cells injected into the spinal canal on Day 1 and mesenchymal stem cells by intravenous infusion on Day 2," the family said. "His response was truly miraculous. At the end of Day 1 he was walking with minimal effort for the first time since his stroke. By Day 2 he was conversing comfortably with family and staff at the clinic."
Executives from Stemedica Cell Technologies contacted the family and facilitated Howe's participation in the clinical trial. He had a two-day, non-surgical treatment earlier this month. The family says Howe has been able to help out with daily household chores, and when tested, his ability to name items has gone from less than 25 per cent before the treatment to 85 per cent.
"Although his short-term memory, strength, endurance and co-ordination have plenty of room for improvement, we are hopeful that he will continue to improve in the months to come," the family said. "As a family, we are thrilled that dad's quality of life has greatly improved, and his progress has exceeded our greatest expectations.
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/12/19/gordie-howe-stem-cell-recovery_n_6358012.html
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)big_dog
(4,144 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)big_dog
(4,144 posts)and this stuff is still in medical trials??
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)There are so many diseases and injuries that could be helped by stem cell research.
7962
(11,841 posts)I understand the need for safety in drugs and treatment, but sometimes the FDA seems to have a different agenda than the patients
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Have you seen Dallas Buyer's Club? That's what that movie is about.
7962
(11,841 posts)A big killer worldwide. A company now called Navidea was developing a drugs called RIGS. It would mark all cancerous tissue so that nothing would be left behind in surgery. They did trials in the 90s when they were called Neoprobe. All the trials were successful and no side effects, but the FDA decided they needed "more information". Well, Neoprobe ran out of money. Meanwhile, as the years passed, 70% of the people who had used RIGS were still alive, compared to 20% of those who didnt. Neoprobe became Navidea and finally got some cash, finished deveoping another cancer diagnostic, Lymphoseek, which is better and safer at finding cancerous lymph nodes in breast cancer patients, as well as other cancers. They got approval for that earlier this year.
RIGS, meanwhile, stayed on the sideline because the FDA wanted trials to start all over again instead of continuing where they left off. How many people could possibly still be alive with the earlier success rate? Who knows.
But why would the FDA insist on new trials when this is a diagnostic used once? the safety would likely be fine since its not something taken continuously
The company hopes to restart the program sometime in the future.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)The money's in the medicine.
The Cancer Industry is over $95 billion a year. That's a nice profit for a 100 year old model.
I have bookmarked this thread for your information in case anyone I know needs it. Having gone through the circus of cancer with nothing but added pain and suffering because the "experts" wouldn't budge, I know how important information is. Thanks for sharing.
7962
(11,841 posts)I'm not very well versed on it, but the company is now trying to develop a way to use their current drug to deliver medication directly to the site of cancer, something called a "macrophage". I think this would eliminate having to radiate the entire body. I'm not positive about that though. If so, it could also be used in other illnesses as well. You may be interested in reading further and may understand better than I do about what it is.
I should also say I bought some stock in this company some years ago as an investment, but also because I thought it was very interesting what they were trying to do. Its still a cheap stock; been thru ups and downs.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)but, but .... there's no money!! But there's always plenty of money whenever it's time to fight!
longship
(40,416 posts)Howe, Lindsay, Delvecchio, an awesome front line.
ClusterFreak
(3,112 posts)...the stroke didn't have a chance.
Great news for Mr. Hockey!
sulphurdunn
(6,891 posts)he would have given us stem cells. Oops.
Paladin
(28,254 posts)Never forget that.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)They're happy to see (other) people die for their beliefs.
Archae
(46,326 posts)First off, I don't trust Huffington Post to be accurate about this, since they have a reputation for pushing woo.
Besides, the treatment may have helped Howe, but can it help the next person?
That's what needs to be confirmed.
IDemo
(16,926 posts)RobinA
(9,888 posts)is, how do we know how he would have improved without the treatment? I'd be a little suspicious of n=1 results.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Our American 'for profit' insurance/medical care will fight this tooth & claw, or charge a million for a $10 'tissue culture'
Archae
(46,326 posts)There is a long history of flat-out quacks setting up their "clinics" in Mexico.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)The USA is very behind in medical treatments using stem cells.
Archae
(46,326 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Archae
(46,326 posts)Remember Terry Schiavo?
Her parents had "VIDEO PROOF" that Terry was responding to visual signals, and trying to talk.
The video turned out to be severely edited, Terry Schiavo was given an autopsy after she died and the video was proven to be a fraud.
These "stem cell clinics" are all operated in third-world countries where regulation is lax, at best.
If Howe is improving, for real, all the better.
But these treatments and clinics run on testimonials.
And testimonials are worthless in medicine.
TBF
(32,056 posts)that up or just stereotyping in general today?
CanSocDem
(3,286 posts)...meanwhile, my friend who spends much of his winters in Mexico, had a stroke a little more than a week ago. He paid a thousand dollars for a cat-scan, bought some medication and some household help and is now resting comfortably rejoicing in the fact that it didn't happen in the USA.
"People who live in glass houses, shouldn't throw stones."
.
Orrex
(63,208 posts)I know a guy who suffered an apparent stroke in October, paid under $1000 for a three-day hospitalization including CAT scans, MRIs, X-rays, ultrasounds & blood work, bought some medication and returned to work two days after that
All right here in the good ol' USA.
What was your point about the stroke-guy, and in what way does it relate to the fairy tale about the miraculous Gordy Howe?
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Game but I have to agree George W worked hard against stem cell research. I know the Reagan family has worked hard to get the research started on stem cells. I hope soon this will be accepted and many other conditions can get relief.