Chemotherapy Vs Stem Cell Therapy

Leukemia broadly describes conditions that affect erythropoiesis in the bone marrow, lymphatic system, and spleen. As with all other cancers, leukemia begins from the mutation of DNA in certain cells. Classifications of leukemias are based on the age of onset and the leukocyte involved (Lewis et al. 2014, 665). The most common leukemia is chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), accounting for approximately 30% of cases in the United States (Copstead and Banasik 2013, 222). The normal function of the bone marrow, spleen, and liver becomes interrupted by the invasion of malignant lymphocytes (B cells); since the B cells are functionally inactive, a patient becomes more susceptible to infections. The sluggish progression of CLL unfortunately leads to late diagnoses and poor prognosis (Lewis et al. 2014, 665). Patients that become symptomatic in later stages will experience fatigue, weight loss, anorexia, and an increased susceptibility to infection, due to abnormal antibody production. Patient specific factors such as age, disease progression, and medication side effects will determine the course of treatment (Copstead and Banasik 2013, 223). The fragile state of patients with CLL requires continuous examination of drug therapy and interventions to prevent further complications.

Stem cell transplant combined with chemotherapy in high doses is a form of treatment, which gives a human body infected with multiple myeloma a chance at remission, which will last a longer time than other remissions. High doses of chemotherapy are very effective in killing the multiple myeloma cells. However, a side effect of chemotherapy is the destruction of hematopoetic stem cells. Stem cell transplant is to replace these cells, which are very important in the human body. There are two types of stem cell transplants. Allogenic stem cell transplant and autogous stem cell transplant is advisable for patients who chose to undergo this form of treatment to have their stem cells harvested prior to the treatment. This will ensure that after the destruction of the hematopoetic stem cells due to the chemotherapy, the patient has available stem cells that doctors transplant into their body when the need arises. Chemotherapy comes with some side effects some severe and others minor. The slight side effects are nausea and vomiting. The worst-case scenario side effects are organ damage (Jones,

“You have cancer” are three words that no one wants to hear. In an instant, someone’s life was changed forever. Multiple myeloma is one of those scary forms of cancer. It is defined as a type of cancer that affects a certain kind of white blood cells called plasma cells (Multiple Myeloma Pamphlet 4). It may seem scary, but fortunately, there are many different kinds of treatment to either treat the disease itself, or to treat the symptoms. Some of the symptoms can be minor, but there are also some major symptoms that can lead to serious problems. Before a doctor can treat a patient with any kind of medications or remedies, he must perform many tests to assure an accurate diagnosis. He would go through the patient 's medical history and

Stem cell therapy has been an issue for debate as long as I can remember. The potential cure for any number of diseases is exciting and gives us reason to be thankful for the potential for healing in the people that we love. There is a real potential for stem cell therapy to be the future when it comes to health and humanity. However, the story doesn't end without controversy. Since the beginning of this particular type of research, groups vehemently debated its ethical outcome. On one hand, there is a real possibility to save lives or help people who are hurting. On the other hand, when stem cells are gathered from an embryo, that embryo is destroyed. Those who believe human life begins at conception, believe that this process is killing a human person. Proponents of Embryonic stem cell research say that the embryos that were used to extract stem cells were either a byproduct of abortion or gathered from the aftermath of the birth of a living child.

I work in an oncology clinic where we use anticancer treatments like chemotherapy. When a patient is diagnosed with leukemia, the Oncologist usually

In 2015, the American Cancer Society estimated about 26,850 new cases of multiple myeloma in the United states (“Statistics on myeloma” n.d). After leukemia and lymphoma, multiple myeloma is the third most common blood cancer in the United States. Multiple myeloma is a cancer which many tumors are scattered in places of the bone marrow. The name myeloma comes from the greek roots myelos (bone marrow) and oma (tumor)(“Progress in treating multiple myeloma” 2010). This disease comes from the inability of plasma cells to function properly. Plasma cells are white blood cells in bone marrow that fight off invading pathogens. Also known as B lymphocytes, these cells have differentiating responses to viruses and bacterias that enter the body. The

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow. It takes hold in the plasma cells of the body. These are a specific type of white blood cell that secretes large numbers of antibodies into the blood stream and lymphatic system to help fight infection. “The annual incidence of Multiple Myeloma is 4 per 100,000 population with a peak incidence of between the sixth and seventh decade of life”. Handbook of cancer chemotherapy p.495 This shows that it is a relatively prevalent type of cancer and poses an issue to society. Multiple Myeloma is an incurable disease and patients are only given therapy to prevent complications and improve symptoms. These steps are taken in order to improve the patient’s quality of life and survival. The treatment of

1. How much time and money should be spent on a therapy that may only work after “years of intensive research”? Would this money be better spent on therapies that have a higher likelihood of success?

One of the major obstacles in progressing to large-scale clinical trials of cardiac stem cell therapy is the ongoing debate regarding the mechanism of action by which stem cell therapy leads to cardiac repair. The classic idea that provided the primary motivation for stem cell therapy is that delivery of the appropriate stem cells would repair a damaged heart via active myocardial regeneration resulting from transdifferentiation of the administered stem cells.19

Stem cell treatments have not yet been established as a safe means of medical treatment; it is still considered risky. Some doctors have taken it upon themselves to participate in unauthorized stem cell treatments putting patients at a risk of infection, blood clots or even some cancers. These treatments are still considered to be perilous by most insurance companies, with few willing to cover the cost of these treatments. There are claims from clients that their stem cell treatment did indeed heal the targeted issue however the lack of supporting evidence leaves their miraculous recovery down to the placebo effect. In the case of using stem cell therapy on cancer, you run the risk of aggravating the disease and instead of taking two steps

Each year, it is estimated that approximately 50,000 people globally will be diagnosed with leukemia, and they will have a 58.5% chance of survival in the next 5 years (National Cancer Institute, 2015). Leukemia is a group of cancers that originate from bone marrow and create cancerous blood cells that overcrowd healthy blood cells within the bone marrow. (National Cancer Institute, 2014). Compared to other types of cancer, leukemia is considered to be relatively rare (National Cancer Institute, 2015). Despite this, leukemia is unlike other cancers due to the fact that there are over a dozen different types of leukemia (Swierzewski, 1999), with each type having specific symptoms depending on the type of blood cell that is cancerous. In response to this fact, identifying how leukemia is caused and how it affects cancer development has been a topic undergoing intense research. In regards to the cancer stem cell theory, studies have isolated potential leukemic stem cells which are suggestive of why cancer cells proliferate (Reya et al. 2001). Subsequently, it is necessary to understand how leukemia is caused, the symptoms associated with this disease, and the potential treatments for those who are currently afflicted.

The issue that has arisen is that the results in leukemias are especially promising, with up to a 90% response rate. Lymphomas have also responded well, with up to 40% or 50% of patients responding to treatment. This has resulted in high demand, but a limited number of patients that can currently be treated because of the tedious and

Chemotherapy is the main way of treating AML.It is divided into three phase, Induction chemotherapy, Post-remission chemotherapy and Consolidation chemotherapy.Alone a chemotherapy is not that much effective so a Stem cell transplantation or a Bone marrow Transplantation is recommended (only if the patients is able to tolerate a transplantation) in most of the times. Allogeneic (ALLO) stem cell transplantation (i.e. using donated stem cell)is done in case of patients suffering from AML[17]. This induction chemotherapy is given with (except in case of M3 subtype of AML) cytarabine (ara-C) and an anthracycline [18]. The induction Chemotherapy routine is also denoted by “7+3” because the cytarabine is given to the patients continuous IV infusions for 7 days consecutively and as

There are four main types of blood cancers: acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). AML and ALL can become fatal within in a few weeks or month if not properly treated. CML and CLL has a slower progression rate than there chronic counterparts. Patients with AML or ALL tend to have noticeable symptoms whereas patients with CML or CLL tend to be asymptomatic (Hallek, 2015). Even though chronic leukemia progresses slowly, acute leukemia is easier to treat. In AML patients’ myeloid blast are arrested in development and are unable to fight infections properly because they are unable to mature (Döhner et al, 2015). Myeloid blast in CML can mature

Stem cell therapy or treatment is now a commonplace term. Countless folks are already open to the notion of going in to this treatment. We hear this term frequently used by doctors and specialty clinics that offer beauty enhancement and aesthetic amenities like StemCellCareIndia. You can even see beauty soaps, facial creams, body lotions and the like which claim to have this refurbishing agents in them.