| Stem cell treatment is a minefield of false claims and | | | | should always be used to gain an optimal effect. |
| misleading advertising and it takes a strict set of | | | | 8. Lengthy treatment times are unnecessary. No |
| guidelines, which can be followed easily by a lay | | | | benefit over one week has been demonstrated. |
| person, to safely choose what is appropriate. | | | | 9. Intravenous treatment is not enough for neurological |
| This article was written by the medical director of | | | | conditions in some patients over the age of 12. |
| Regenecell to inform the public how to avoid the pitfalls | | | | 10. Umbilical cord cells are the safest and most |
| of an incorrect decision. The information contained in | | | | effective. Your own cells can be as effective in |
| this article comes from years of meticulous research in | | | | certain circumstances, but provide no additional safety. |
| the field and the experience of consulting stem cell | | | | Embryonic and fetal cells could offer unknown risks. |
| companies in the treatment of over 800 patients. | | | | 11. Treatment without growth factors is pointless. This |
| The points listed below are not negotiable when | | | | is because stem cells will not remain in the circulation |
| deciding on appropriate stem cell therapy. Relenting on | | | | unless forced to, and will immediately migrate into the |
| any of these points can lead to a non-response or an | | | | bone marrow where they remain dormant and do not |
| adverse reaction, which can have lifelong implications. | | | | become active without being stimulated artificially to do |
| Please be meticulous when deciding on who treats | | | | so. Stem cells will only work if they are in our blood |
| you. Leave nothing to chance and be careful from | | | | vessels or central nervous systems, not our bone |
| where and from whom you take your advice. | | | | marrow. |
| 1. Stem cell therapy offers no guarantees and is not a | | | | 12. Screening blood tests must be done before |
| cure for any disease. | | | | treatment begins. These are available from Regenecell. |
| 2. Anecdotal evidence, personal experience or | | | | 13. Genuine stem cell treatment with any basis in |
| information offered on blogs offer no proof of therapy | | | | medical science cannot be done for significantly less |
| outcomes and can be dangerously biased. It can give | | | | than $20 000. The production and testing costs alone |
| you an idea of what the clinic is like in terms of service | | | | are a significant portion of this. If you are being quoted |
| and facilities, but should not be relied upon to make a | | | | less you might get less than you expected. |
| decision for treatment. Accepting a recommendation | | | | 14. There are no supplements that will enhance |
| from a person on a blog is extremely dangerous. | | | | treatment responses or make you own stem cells |
| 3. Only accept treatment from a company that uses | | | | leave your bone marrow and magically repair your |
| cells from a facility which maintains "Good | | | | disease. However, taking good supplements is |
| Manufacturing Practice" or "GMP". Without this | | | | recommended by the American Medical Association |
| assurance, the cells may be impure and lead to tumour | | | | and Regenecell endorses this. |
| formation or Graft vs Host disease. | | | | 15. No less than 30 million cells should be used in a |
| 4. Cortisone (steroid) or non-steroidal | | | | complete treatment. No extra benefit has ever been |
| anti-inflammatories do not belong anywhere in the | | | | shown with higher numbers. |
| treatment process. Their use will inhibit engraftment | | | | 16. Do not accept a company's claim that cells can be |
| and mask any adverse events. This will lead to a failed | | | | posted to you. Stem cells need to be cryopreserved |
| response to the treatment. Stem cells rely on | | | | to retain their efficacy, and specialised cryocouriers |
| inflammation to guide their homing and this is switched | | | | are used who ensure this cryo-chain is never broken. |
| off by any anti-inflammatory - resulting in no treatment | | | | Also, importing biologicals across state borders, |
| response. | | | | especially into the USA, is illegal and carries severe |
| 5. Multiple invasive procedures confer no extra benefit, | | | | penalties for you and your doctor. |
| and lead to higher risk of contamination, infection and | | | | 17. No stem cell company has FDA approval. They |
| results in greater trauma and therefore less response | | | | might use FDA approved processes in the production |
| to therapy. The reason for the lesser response is that | | | | of their product, but that is as far as it goes. |
| trauma is inflammation and attracts stem cells, which | | | | 18. Don't wait too long. The later in the disease process |
| are wasted on the damage caused, and not on the | | | | or the more damage you have, the more work there |
| disease the patient wanted treatment for in the first | | | | is for the cells to do, and the less benefit you will |
| place. In addition, repeated lumbar punctures can lead | | | | derive. This is especially true of diseases that progress |
| to long-term back pain. | | | | rapidly. |
| 6. Cells should be given separately and the exact | | | | Please print this out and use it to guage the quality of |
| numbers should be detailed on the certificate of | | | | the company you are communicating with and if you |
| analysis which must specify each vial. Mixtures should | | | | have any questions that cannot be answered here |
| not be used and purity must be listed. | | | | feel free to contact the author. |
| 7. Current evidence shows that Mesenchymal cells | | | | |