Yesterday, Thursday, was an interesting day. While we were not able to spend much time with Rachael; we did go to a symposium on the latest advances in medicine and research regarding MS. Currently, MS is one of the most research diseases in the world (keep in mind, the research isn't being done out of virtue, rather, its that the profits are huge. If the profits dry up, so goes the research)
The exciting news was a researcher stated that "within the decade, we will have a way to repair myelin." It seems that all the research teams have an extremely positive outlook on repairing the damage done by MS.
The speaker, Dr Bowen, put the goals in more realistic terms. He stated that;
"while we might find a way to reproduce the myelin, we want it to stop growing too much and need it to function as it should. We just don't want to end up with a skull full of myelin that keeps growing."
Another major goal for MS research is to stop the advances of MS. The amount of research being done is equally extraordinary, including cell transplants and regrowth of the damaged central nervous system through stem cell research. Currently there are over 75 drugs and treatments in study (not approved by the FDA) for slowing MS or helping MS patients in some form. No other disease has that amount of clinical drug trials happening.
The guest speaker, Dr. James Bowen MD; Evergreen Medical Center, is a leading clinical trial physician specializing in MS in the USA. The good news, he agreed to examine Rachael's MRI's while in Yakima. He is doing this as a consult with Dr. Sloop, Rach's neurologist. He is to recommend the best course of treatment for Rachael, including the continuation or cessation of using interferon.
2 comments:
I didn't know there was so much research going into MS! That gives me much hope for the future.
I pray that there will be enough research to fight MS, ALS, and my personal most hated rival, breast cancer.
As always, my thoughts are with you guys, my friend.
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