Stem Cell Research Provides Help for Breast Reconstruction

Irene MacKenzie had a lumpectomy for her early stage breast cancer leaving her with a hollow in her breast. The lumpectomy took care of the cancer, but what about her breast? Well, Irene was the first person in Britain to reap the benefits of Stem Cell research using Adult Stem Cells for breast reconstruction.

Feeling Self-Conscious After the Lumpectomy

After the lumpectomy, Irene didn't feel good about the way her breast looked. She looked for options. A friend referred her to Eva Weiler-Mithoff who is a consultant plastic surgeon at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Dr. Weiler-Mithoff who had been approached with a new Adult Stem Cell process asked if Irene would be interested in becoming the first woman in Britain to receive this new stem cell treatment for breasts. Irene didn't hesitate and said "YES!"

Process of Stem Cells for the Breast

1. Approximately one pint of fat extracted via liposuction from her stomach.


2. Half the fat was put aside.  Adult Stem Cells were extracted from the other half of fat.


3. The Adult Stem Cells were then mixed with the first half of fat.


4. The Stem Cell mix was injected into the hollow in her breast.


5. 3 months later- the stem cell therapy treated breast looked and felt like a normal breast

Up until now, the only option has been to  fill the hollow with the liposuctioned fat (without adding the Adult Stem Cells).  The Adult Stem Cells create new blood vessels thus giving the newly added fat some blood supply so it does not die.

11 Breast Patients Treated With Stem Cell Therapy So Far

Dr. Weiler-Mithoff says that they have treated 11 patients so far in this stem cell clinical trial, but that she is very pleased with the results so far.

From the stem cell article:

This stem-cell enriched fat also seems to restore the softness of the breast tissues. It almost uncrumples the skin, undoing some of the radiotherapy damage, and women are reporting that their pain has eased, too - possibly because it makes the skin more supple.

I feel this technique will have a significant impact on breast reconstruction. Patients don't need a big operation and there are no scars.

I recently covered a similar story approximately a month ago about this breast reconstruction in Britain although that story focused more on how this exact same procedure could be used for breast enlargement.

Also, doctors have been doing this in Japan for over 6 years now at the Seishin Cosmetic Clinic with an  80% satisfaction rate.

Similar Stem Cell Research for Face Lifts

Also, last week, I covered a company in China that is using this same technique of getting Adult Stem Cells from the fat and then injecting them into the face as an alternative to a facelift.

Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis- Giving Life Back

Multiple Sclerosis had taken many things away from Jason Upshaw- his job at the Sheriff's department, his ability to play with his kids, as well as his ability to walk. Jason had given up hope . Luckily for Jason, he found an article about Preston Walker, another law enforcement officer in Texas with MS. Preston Walker had gone to Costa Rica for a new stem cell treatment and therapy using Adult Stem Cells and had reported tremendous improvements.

Jason, 36, of Erath County, Texas contacted Preston Walker who gave the stem cell therapy a glowing review.  Jason promptly contacted the stem cell treatment company in Costa Rica and arranged to go there for treatment.

In June, 2008, Jason went to Costa Rica with his mother to receive the Adult Stem Cells that would turn his life around.

Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms Before the Stem Cell Treatment

• numbness and tingling on his right side


• balance issues- had to use a scooter to mover around outside


• poor coordination


• severe heat sensitivity

MS Symptoms After the Stem Cell Therapy

• Not Applicable (NA)


• NA


• NA

Jason no longer has any symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis and he has stopped seeing his neurologist.  He is also back to playing baseball in the backyard with his kids.

Thanks to Stem Cell Therapy, Back to Work

The Adult Stem Cells have enabled Jason to go back to his work at the Sheriff's Department. The Multiple Sclerosis had forced him to stop work and put him on full disabiltiy. That is not the case today.

According to the stem cell article:

“I never thought I would be back,” Erath County Sheriff’s Investigator Jason Upshaw said, referring to his career in law enforcement. “The day the sheriff handed my badge and gun back, I cried. I mean, I really broke down and cried.”

Stem Cell Research Impresses Wife Too

“Four months after we got married, his MS was very bad,” Michelle said. “And then, just weeks after he left for Costa Rica he was walking on his own. I fell to my knees when I saw him. I hit the floor.”

However, Michelle isn't so impressed with the state of stem cell research and therapy in the United States (and why should she be?):

“Our lives have truly been changed forever,” Michelle said. “It is an injustice that these treatments, resources and facilities are not available in the United States.”

Adult Stem Cells- Giving Hope and Inspiring Others

Jason hasn't let the FDA stop him from spreading the wonders of adult stem cell therapy around. Jason is now speaking in front of groups and writes 25-50 emails a day to MS patients who are in similar straits to where Jason once was.

One of those MS patients is Robyn Gorrie who is in Costa Rica now (April 2009) receiving stem cell therapy for her condition. Jason wrote a very nice email to her-

I now play baseball with my boys in the back yard. I'd nearly given up on ever being able to do that again, much less get back in to the profession I love. Please feel free to contact me at any time. You can call anytime. Please know that you are in my prayers and I hope you get to go, it has truly changed my life.
Your friend,
Jason Upshaw"

You can read Jason's full email to Robyn here

Thank you to Janice Fuller  for this terrific story and it looks like she is getting ready to go to for stem cell treatment herself.  Read Janice's story at Adult Stem Cell Therapy Ning Group

Other MS Patients Who Have Had Successful Stem Cell Treatment in Costa Rica

Holly Huber,  Jennifer Blankenship and Dennis Trammell and Angie Adcox, Joey Quinn, and Juli Balli who all followed in the footsteps of Richard Humphries and Preston Walker.

Stem Cell Research Study Reveals Stroke Patients Helped by Own Stem Cells

A new stem cell research study/trial recently completed shows that implanting a person's own Adult Stem Cells helps stroke patients overcome partial paralysis. Dr. Kameshwar Prasad of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will present his stem cell study at the European Stroke Research Conference in May, 2009.

Stroke Victims Own Adult Stem Cells Used

In the stem cell study that took place in New Delhi, India, 12 stroke victims had their own stem cells implanted within 1 month after a stroke. Also, 3 stroke patients were used as a control group and were not given any stem cells.

Process of Stem Cells for Stroke

1. Adult Stem Cells extracted from patient's bone marrow


2. Stem Cells are then purified


3. Patient's own stem cells are then reintroduced intravenously into the antecubital vein (in the forearms, near the elbow)


4. Stem Cells migrate to area of injury (in this case- the brain)


5. Adult Stem Cells enhance repair process and reduce brain damage

The Stem Cell Treatment Results

At the beginning of the stem cell study, none of the 12 stroke patients were able to carry out daily activities, use the toilet, take a bath, dress and eat independently.

However, within 1 year, 70% (I assume 7 or 8 of the patients) were able to overcome their handicaps and successfully return to previous activities like playing golf, working in the office and cooking.

Only 1 out of the 3 stroke patients in the control group were able to go back to their normal routine.

No Side Effects From Your Own Stem Cells

From the stem cell article:
"The stem cells had excellent safety profile. After carrying out Pet scans and MRIs thrice in a year on patients who received stem cells, we found no side-effects. This study shows that stem cells are a safe and feasible therapy in acute stroke. This holds promise and needs to be confirmed in a bigger study,'' Dr Prasad said.

Of course there were no side effects, the trial used the patient's own cells. Rejection isn't an issue.  As I say time and time again, the patient has everything to gain and nothing to lose.  There is no downside to this treatment.  It is a shame this isn't being put to use in the United States and made available to everyone who may need it.

These same doctors will follow up this stem cell clinical trial for stroke with a 120 patient trial in the next 3 years.  Hopefully, this will speed things up for Adult Stem Cells to be accepted sooner rather than later.

Related Stem Cells for Stroke Success Stories

The results of this study comes just after I covered this stem cell trial for stroke in Texas.  Also, earlier this year, I covered the stem cell tea bag which helped a German stroke victim as well.

Adult Stem Cells Improve Young Boy with Cerebral Palsy

Corey de Gregorio, a 3 year old boy from Gordonvale, Australia has improved tremendously after going to a Stem Cell research company which implanted Adult Stem Cells from cord blood into him.

Corey's parents, Mark and Roseanne had doubts before going to China for the stem cell treatment, but they  wanted Corey to have every chance to live a better life and therefore, they made the journey to China for the stem cell therapy which used only Adult Stem Cells.

The miracle treatment consisted of six "therapies" of cord blood stem cells.

Before the Adult Stem Cells for Cerebral Palsy

• Had very little use of his left arm/hand


• Little movement in his torso

After the Stem Cell Treatment

• Can now use his left hand, can use it to drink a cup by himself


• Increased flexibility in torso

Amazed by the Stem Cell Research

According to the stem cell article:
More than six months after the stem cell treatment, Mr de Gregorio said the family was amazed at the improvements in his torso and his left arm.

Corey de Gregorio is not the only Aussie to go abroad for stem cell research using Adult Stem Cells. Last month, I featured Sierra Rose Hill, another young toddler from Australia who went to Germany for a successful stem cell treatment for her Cerebral Palsy as well.

Adult Stem Cells do seem to work well for Cerebral Palsy as I have posted many stories about children going to Duke University for stem cell research where they were treated with their own cord blood stem cells.

I am happy for Corey de Gregorio and a special kudos for his parents for taking an educated "risk" and going to China for stem cell treatment where hundreds of others have been helped as well.   It paid off for them.

 

Adult Stem Cell Research Shows that Diabetes Type 1 Can Be Helped

In a Stem Cell research study that is being published today in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), Adult Stem Cells have been used to help patients with Diabetes Type 1.

20 of 23 Patients Helped With Their Own Adult Stem Cells

23 patients who were newly diagnosed (within 6 weeks) with Diabetes Type 1 were first given chemotherapy to dampen their immune system, then they were given their own stem cells taken from their blood.

Of those 23 patients, 20 "reduced or ended dependence on insulin as their bodies took over production of the hormone." Of those 20 patients, 12 of them were off insulin for a long period of time, while 8 relapsed and went back to taking small doses of insulin.

According to the stem cell abstract:

Conclusion After a mean follow-up of 29.8 months following autologous nonmyeloablative HSCT in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 DM, C-peptide levels increased significantly and the majority of patients achieved insulin independence with good glycemic control.

A Cure is Needed for Diabetes???

And according to the stem cell article, “A cure is needed, but it will probably not come from a single breakthrough,” wrote Christopher D. Saudek of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, in an accompanying editorial.

A cure is needed? Thanks for that Chris. I never dreamed a cure was needed until I read this stem cell research article.

Luckily the senior author of the stem cell research study was a little more positive- The stem-cell technique “remains the only treatment capable of reversing type 1 diabetes mellitus in humans,” wrote the paper’s senior author, Julio Voltarelli, and colleagues at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and in the U.S.

Use of Adult Stem Cells "in the hands of the FDA"

Unsurprisingly, Dr. Richard Burt of Northwestern University was one of the stem cell doctors who authored the clinical study and luckily he added a little more insight- "“We work 24/7, and we’re getting there as fast as we can. It’s now in the hands of the FDA" 

In the hands of the FDA?  Why do you have to be such a killjoy Dr. Burt?  You just killed all hope I had of seeing this available in the United States.

Speaking of FDA, another doctor, Dr. Christopher Centeno, involved in Adult Stem Cell research has formed a doctor's group who are challenging the FDA's silly rules that a person's own stem cells are drugs. A group of laymen are also joining the cavalry and if you are reading this, I recommend you join them-- go to www.safestemcells.org