Multiple Sclerosis and Chemotherapy: How does chemo help the sufferer and can MS be heireditory?

Answer 1

Therapies currently used for MS are based on the prevailing theory that it is an autoimmune disorder. Meaning the body attacks itself. The medications are used to either shut down or invade the inflammatory cells and destroy them. If you tell us the specific chemotherapy planned I can be more specific as to it's action.

MS has been shown to have a likely genetic propensity with a first degree relative having a 20-40% greater chance of developing the disorder than the general public.

The action of MS is demylination (loss of the covering) and breakdown of the nerves in the central nervous system.

Two similar conditions are ALS which has demylination throughout the nervous system, and CIDP which is demylination in the peripheral (arms and legs) nervous system

I am leaning towards a theory which believes there may be a viral origin as they are also similar in effect to Guillian-Barre

NOTE: I currently take a treatment for CIDP which has been helpful in stopping the disease. Trust your neuromuscular medicine specialist

Answer 2

A number of people in my MS support group have had chemotherapy. They all had progressive MS and they credit the chemo with stopping the progression of the disease. One of them was at the point where he needed a wheelchair. He is now walking again which I find amazing. They were all at the point where they used the chemo as a last resort. Exactly what the chemo does to the disease I do not know. No one knows the cause of the disease and there is no cure. While it is classified as an autoimmune disease there is absolutely no proof that MS is an autoimmune disease. Scientists believe that heredity plays a role but I would take any statistic with a grain of salt. The truth is that almost nothing is known and every case of MS is different.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Multiple Sclerosis and Chemotherapy: How does chemo help the sufferer and can MS be heireditory?

Answer 4

There's no known cause of MS, yet. The research is still ongoing, there does seem to be a genetic factor, but no one knows for certain.

Since there isn't a known cause, Chemo is a gamble. Basically chemo would be randomly attacking the body trying to kill anything that's not suppose to be there. There isn't any proof chemo works and it has been known to make some patients worse due to the stress of chemotherapy.

In Canada, use of Chemo for MS patients has been banned. Supposedly, american docotrs are saying it takes a long time before chemo works, then their patients die.

I wouldn't recommend chemo for any MS patient. There are drugs available for Relaspsing Remittant, the disease modifying drugs, which do work for a lot of people.

Otherwise, diet and exercize, I can't stress that enough. Those will be the two strongest tools in fighting MS.

Answer 5

The rationale for the use of chemotherapy to treat MS stems from the fact that MS is considered to be an autoimmune disease. An abnormal, heightened immune action of certain white blood cells mounts an attack on the myelin of the central nervous system. Destruction of myelin—the fatty sheath that surrounds and insulates nerves—causes nerve impulses to be slowed or halted and produces the symptoms of MS. Since administering chemotherapeutic agents diminishes the numbers of white blood cells, it should theoretically slow down or halt this autoimmune destruction.

Novantrone belongs to the general group of medicines called antineoplastics. Prior to its approval for use in MS, it was used only to treat certain forms of cancer. It acts in MS by suppressing the activity of T cells, B cells, and macrophages that are thought to lead the attack on the myelin sheath.

There are a lot of theories on the heredity issue.Yes there does seem to be increased chances of developing MS if you have a family member who has been diagnosed. Some researchers believe it's hereditary some believe it's environmental.But the fact is , no one knows.

Someone mentioned the Guillian-Barre virus. There is a great deal of evidence to support this theory and more studies are being conducted.

Novantrone would not be my first choice for treatments , but You and Your Dr's must make that decision .Each case is so different.

Answer 6

First thing with MS, the symptoms are similar to countless others, so mis-diagnosis is common, never take one doctors word, always go to at least three unrelated doctors, preferably doctors who have never worked together, doctors tend to collude for personal financial benefit.
As far as Chemo, with MS one thing you do NOT want to do is kick your body out of balance.
My father died of MS(or the treatment) and my sister in law was mis-diagnosed for 7 years they said she had MS, she doesn't, she got the right doctor, right treatment and all is good.

Answer 7

Some blame ms on infections-I have seen people make dramatic improvement after taking antibiotics-the private hospital below has updated information on treatment options,which may be more updated than your doctors.

Answer 8

1

Answer 9

Go shopping for new clothes—wriggling directly into 10 pairs of skinny jeans could possibly get your heart rate up.