Mankind has never been satisfied with accepting the status quo. From the beginning of time, man has endeavored to improve his lot and to make things easier for himself. It is only natural that great efforts have been made over the ages to conquer deadly diseases and in the process major successes have been accomplished. Diseases that killed millions of people are now treated routinely and successfully. At stem cell research facilities scientists hope to achieve the next major breakthrough.
Bone marrow transplants have been performed for some years. Until now, however, only patients suffering from leukemia and other serious blood related diseases received them. These patients often receive chemo therapy and this kills all the cells indiscriminately. With bone marrow transplants, the idea is to stimulate the growth of new, healthy cells. The treatment is no yet failsafe, however, and it is still used only as a last resort.
At present, bone marrow transplants can at best add a few years to the life expectancy of patients. It is not a cure for cancer. But scientists hope that new studies and ongoing efforts will eventually result in an actual cure for many different types of cancer. The complex nature of these studies necessitates a very slow pace, however. Scientists admit that a cure for cancer is still some years away.
It is not just a possible cure for cancer that interests researchers in this field. They think that bone marrow transplants will one day also be used to replace damaged cells in the brain itself. If this becomes possible, the terrible consequences of diseases like Alzheimer and other degenerative brain diseases could be turned back. Those suffering from physical brain damage and spine injuries will also benefit.
It is believed that bone marrow transplants will even be able to stimulate the growth of new cells within the heart itself. These new cells will repair the damage caused by various types of heart disease. Millions of people die due to heart conditions every year and significant progress in this area will offer uncountable benefits to patients and will change the way in which medicine is practiced.
Bone marrow transplants and its potential benefits are surrounded by controversy. Numerous critics, many of them renowned medical scientists themselves, say that these transplants are outright dangerous and that there is no indication that they actually benefit the patient. Critics also point out that the cells that are transplanted are routinely obtained from the umbilical cords of unborn babies. This raises serious ethical issues and paves the way for abuse.
Critics are also very vocal about the fact that researchers are creating the impression that major breakthroughs are just around the corner. Nothing could be further from the truth, state the critics. Promises of miracle cures and new hope for millions of patients create false expectations and these promises are simply used by scientists to attract ever increasing funding, often at the cost of other, more worthwhile studies.
Most ordinary people do not have enough information to form a balanced opinion about bone marrow transplants and its potential benefits. One can but hope that progress in this field will truly save millions of lives. It seems as if this will not be very soon, unfortunately.
Bone marrow transplants have been performed for some years. Until now, however, only patients suffering from leukemia and other serious blood related diseases received them. These patients often receive chemo therapy and this kills all the cells indiscriminately. With bone marrow transplants, the idea is to stimulate the growth of new, healthy cells. The treatment is no yet failsafe, however, and it is still used only as a last resort.
At present, bone marrow transplants can at best add a few years to the life expectancy of patients. It is not a cure for cancer. But scientists hope that new studies and ongoing efforts will eventually result in an actual cure for many different types of cancer. The complex nature of these studies necessitates a very slow pace, however. Scientists admit that a cure for cancer is still some years away.
It is not just a possible cure for cancer that interests researchers in this field. They think that bone marrow transplants will one day also be used to replace damaged cells in the brain itself. If this becomes possible, the terrible consequences of diseases like Alzheimer and other degenerative brain diseases could be turned back. Those suffering from physical brain damage and spine injuries will also benefit.
It is believed that bone marrow transplants will even be able to stimulate the growth of new cells within the heart itself. These new cells will repair the damage caused by various types of heart disease. Millions of people die due to heart conditions every year and significant progress in this area will offer uncountable benefits to patients and will change the way in which medicine is practiced.
Bone marrow transplants and its potential benefits are surrounded by controversy. Numerous critics, many of them renowned medical scientists themselves, say that these transplants are outright dangerous and that there is no indication that they actually benefit the patient. Critics also point out that the cells that are transplanted are routinely obtained from the umbilical cords of unborn babies. This raises serious ethical issues and paves the way for abuse.
Critics are also very vocal about the fact that researchers are creating the impression that major breakthroughs are just around the corner. Nothing could be further from the truth, state the critics. Promises of miracle cures and new hope for millions of patients create false expectations and these promises are simply used by scientists to attract ever increasing funding, often at the cost of other, more worthwhile studies.
Most ordinary people do not have enough information to form a balanced opinion about bone marrow transplants and its potential benefits. One can but hope that progress in this field will truly save millions of lives. It seems as if this will not be very soon, unfortunately.
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