Stem cell questions

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Lily Mae - 12 Apr 2004 03:34 GMT

I saw a special on TV about a kid (10)with leukemia and just before death
practically, they did stem cells in his blood, I think it was. He is totally
cured and now has a different type blood and supposedly he will always be
able to have any organ transplant and not risk rejection. Has anyone heard
of this sort of quick recovery? The stem cells are taken for the umbilical
cords of new infants. There is about 1 teaspoon in there.
Does that work in the case of all cancers? Sorry all the questions but I
also wondered if anyone has "changed" their mind concerning this procedure
since they got their deadly disease.....
I just hope that in my lifetime (I'm 49,) that the stem cell procedures are
put into practice. I have no religious affiliations so that factor doesn't
come into play for me. I'm just tired of family members dropping like flies.
It's mostly from smoking or drinking, they're getting cancers and other
complications.

Bla, bla,bla, life story:
When I was 25 and my dad died from alcohol, I believed he wasn't dying quick
enough for me. He was a wonderful father till he wasn't. I hated him for
that. At my16th year, the life of the party was now a nightmare. Luckily he
was a happy drunk and not the violent type like my mom's side.
Now that I'm older and wiser on that disease, what I wouldn't give to have
him back. First, I would apologize for my thoughts and actions when he burst
the family bubble.
Thanks for listening,

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Melody Lavers

"You know the world's gone mad when the best rapper is a white guy, the best
golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese, the Swiss hold
the America's Cup, France is accusing the USA of arrogance and the Germans
don't want to go to war." Chris Rock

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wolfgang - 12 Apr 2004 05:04 GMT

>I saw a special on TV about a kid (10)with leukemia and just before death
>practically, they did stem cells in his blood, I think it was. He is totally
>cured and now has a different type blood and supposedly he will always be
>able to have any organ transplant and not risk rejection. Has anyone heard
>of this sort of quick recovery?

It would be fiarly unusual, but not unheard of if all the conditions
are right.

About 18 years ago I worked on a study for Leukemia where the victim
is their own donor... bone marrow is harvested, treated in vitro then
frozen for use during the next relapse where chemo or radio therapy is
used to kill off the affected marrow, then the donor marrow is
re-introduced.

> The stem cells are taken for the umbilical
>cords of new infants. There is about 1 teaspoon in there.
>Does that work in the case of all cancers?

Absolutely not. They have a procedure where the entire immune system
is killed off, hopefully along with the cancer, then stem cells are
transplanted to build new blood and immune cells, but it doesn't work
on everything.

If I recall properly, stem cells are simply immature cells that
haven't decided what they are programmed to become yet.

> Sorry all the questions but I
>also wondered if anyone has "changed" their mind concerning this procedure
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>him back. First, I would apologize for my thoughts and actions when he burst
>the family bubble.

Your thoughts as a youth were appropriate for a youth in that
situation. Your thoughts as an adult indicate compassion and
maturity. It would seem that you have turned out well.

Don't feel bad for being who you used to be - it was necessary for you
to become who you are.

>Thanks for listening,

Anytime.

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