2006-11-30 04:57:20 · 4 answers · asked by delacruz2k5 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
There is more than one kind of stem cell 'research' taking place. The only kind that is controversial involves embryonic stem cell research.
Everyone has stem cells already in their bodies and there is a cancer treatment called Stem Cell Transplant or Stem Cell Rescue. What it entails is removing the patients own stem cells using a machine similar to dialysis. A large amount of the stem cells are 'harvested' and than frozen. The patient than undergoes myleoablative or high dose chemotherapy in hopes of killing off all microscopic cancer cells within the body. The high dose chemotherapy will deplete the immune system, at that point the patients own stem cells are than give back to him to grow a 'new immune system'. This can take weeks or months depending on the patient.
Embyonic stem cell research is important because the stem cell is 'new' . . and has not 'aged' like the stem cell of a patient. More research needs to be done to determine if embyronic stem cells hold the key to curing cancer and other diseases or not . . but all that is in the political arena. People who may benefit from this research seem to be conveniently forgotten during the debate.
2006-11-30 05:16:54 · answer #1 · answered by Panda 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For it, but with some reservations regarding the ethics some disregard involving human life. It will be a panacea of scientific possibility, hopefully ending some of the most crushing health problems we face.
2006-11-30 05:07:50 · answer #2 · answered by ginarene71 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We saved my son's cord blood, which is rich in stem cells. If he gets a life threatening disease, I should hope we would be able to use those stem cells to cure him. So yes, I am for it, if it will save lives.
2006-11-30 05:03:25 · answer #3 · answered by RiverGirl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
for it. I believe in the science
2006-11-30 04:59:23 · answer #4 · answered by christigmc 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋