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Over the past few decades truly major breakthroughs have been made in the medical field. Diseases that once caused the death of thousands are now considered as conquered. New medication, treatment methods and tools allow doctors to help many more people than they were able to just a few years ago. Even diseases that cannot be cured yet can at least be managed, thus prolonging the lives of the patient. Scientists at stem cell treatment centers think that they will make major breakthroughs soon.
Bone marrow transplants are not new. They have been performed for a number of years on very ill patients suffering from leukemia and other blood related cancers. These patients, after receiving repeated chemo treatment, have very poor immune systems. With bone marrow transplants, it is hope to encourage the growth of new blood cells to replace those destroyed by the drastic chemo treatment.
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.
Scientists do not focus solely on finding ways in which bone marrow transplants can cure cancer. Much research is also done to study the possibilities of bone marrow transplants to reverse damage to brain cells. If this line of research bears fruit, those with brain and spine injuries and those suffering from debilitating conditions like Alzheimer and dementia. The idea is that the bone marrow will stimulate the growth of new brain cells.
Heart disease is also under the magnifying glasses of researchers in this area. They believe that it would eventually be possible to replace damage to the heart by growing new cells to replace damaged or destroyed ones. Heart disease remains one of the biggest killer diseases all over the world and a breakthrough in this field would certainly save millions of lives. Much still needs to be done, however.
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 say that researchers in this field raise the hopes of patients with promises of rapid progress and imminent breakthroughs. This is simply not true. Any breakthrough in bone marrow transplant techniques are still many years in the future and researchers are simply using the hype to raise funds for even more research. This money could be used more productively in other fields, say critics.
Despite the controversy and criticism against research into bone marrow transplants, one hope that the results scientists are hoping for will indeed come true. Many millions of lives will be saved and mankind will have a major victory over many diseases. Results are still a way off in the future, however.
Bone marrow transplants are not new. They have been performed for a number of years on very ill patients suffering from leukemia and other blood related cancers. These patients, after receiving repeated chemo treatment, have very poor immune systems. With bone marrow transplants, it is hope to encourage the growth of new blood cells to replace those destroyed by the drastic chemo treatment.
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.
Scientists do not focus solely on finding ways in which bone marrow transplants can cure cancer. Much research is also done to study the possibilities of bone marrow transplants to reverse damage to brain cells. If this line of research bears fruit, those with brain and spine injuries and those suffering from debilitating conditions like Alzheimer and dementia. The idea is that the bone marrow will stimulate the growth of new brain cells.
Heart disease is also under the magnifying glasses of researchers in this area. They believe that it would eventually be possible to replace damage to the heart by growing new cells to replace damaged or destroyed ones. Heart disease remains one of the biggest killer diseases all over the world and a breakthrough in this field would certainly save millions of lives. Much still needs to be done, however.
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 say that researchers in this field raise the hopes of patients with promises of rapid progress and imminent breakthroughs. This is simply not true. Any breakthrough in bone marrow transplant techniques are still many years in the future and researchers are simply using the hype to raise funds for even more research. This money could be used more productively in other fields, say critics.
Despite the controversy and criticism against research into bone marrow transplants, one hope that the results scientists are hoping for will indeed come true. Many millions of lives will be saved and mankind will have a major victory over many diseases. Results are still a way off in the future, however.
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