As HSCT get denied, MSers in UK traveling to Russia reports Daily Mirror

[ActiveMSers]

And Australians are going to Mexico....

Fotoula Maitianos travels to Mexico amid pandemic for multiple sclerosis stem cell treatment

Photos: ABC News.
AUTHOR

The Greek Herald
DATE

July 8, 2021
CATEGORY

CommunityPeople
In December 2013, Foutoula Maitianos was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – a condition of the central nervous system that affects mobility and can cause fatigue and memory loss.

Almost seven years later in 2020, the South Australian mum-of-two saw her condition deteriorate significantly to the point where she relied on a walking frame or wheelchair.

“My walking deteriorated, I started getting headaches, fatigue, it was becoming a struggle,” Ms Maitianos told ABC News.

Ms Maitianos knew the goal for people living with MS was to stop symptoms from getting worse, but none of her treatments were doing that.

ARTICLE:

https://greekherald.com.au/community...ell-treatment/

[ActiveMSers]

Thousands of Multiple Sclerosis sufferers are missing out on stem-cell treatment available on the NHS, campaigners say.MS sufferers denied stem cell treatment in NHS postcode lottery forced to go to Russia

Multiple Sclerosis sufferers missing out on stem-cell treatment from the NHS are having to raise money to fund their own treatment in places like Russia and Mexico say campaigners

The procedure can slow and even halt the progress of MS – which cuts life expectancy by five to 10 years.

Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant treatment, commonly known as HSCT, works by harvesting cells from blood and bone marrow to reset it to a point before it caused MS.

It is offered by just a handful of hospitals in England – mainly in London and Sheffield.

But charities fear the postcode lottery, plus stretched resources and a lack of awareness, mean many sufferers will not receive the treatment, despite the fact they deserve it.

Desperate patients denied HSCT on the NHS are raising money to have it privately in Russia or Mexico.

MORE: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-new...-cell-24453136