The only established stem cell treatment approved in Australia is haematopoietic stem cell (HPC) transplantation (using stem cells from umbilical cord blood or bone marrow), which is standard practice for the treatment of disorders of the blood and immune system such as leukaemia.
The average stem cell therapy cost can range anywhere between $5000 - $50,000. Patients must do their research and ask as many questions as they can before financially committing to treatment.
Medicare covers only two procedures: allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT) and autologous stem cell transplantation (Au-SCT).
However, the only stem cell treatment that has been scientifically proven is haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been available in Australia for several decades and is an established effective therapy for haematopoietic reconstitution.
Generally, stem cell therapy can cost anywhere from $1,200 to $8,500 or possibly even more for a single treatment depending on the clinical picture. Some patients who require injections into multiple joints may prefer to pace their procedures to offset the initial cost and minimize discomfort during recovery.
The cost of a stem cell transplant can vary depending on the type of treatment needed, ranging from $15,000 to $75,000. According to a 2022 poll, treatments cost between $10,000 and $40,000, while a Twitter poll reported that patients could expect to spend from under $5,000 to over $50,000.
Infection is one of the most common early side effects of a stem cell transplant. It happens because the white blood cell count is very low and the immune system is weak. Bacterial infections are most common. Viral or fungal infections can also happen.
A 2021 study in JAMA Oncology found that among a cohort of 4,741 patients, after an allogeneic bone marrow or stem cell transplant, about 8.7 years of life were lost compared to the general population. Yet, over the past 40 years, fewer people died in the later decades following a bone marrow transplant.
Stem cells have been more widely used as part of regenerative medicine. As such, stem cell therapy is a successful treatment that offers many benefits that make it worth the price. Stem cell therapy is a non-surgical, non-opioid treatment method with a reduced risk of complications compared to surgery.
Germany has a long-standing reputation for excellence in medical research and healthcare. The country is home to several renowned institutions specializing in stem cell treatment, such as the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT) and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics.
For example, stem cell therapy can assist in stem cells becoming bone cells, cartilage cells, muscle cells, etc. By repairing these cells, people, including the elderly, can experience an overall better quality of life and feel better inside and out, and even potentially reverse the effects of many diseases.
People who might benefit from stem cell therapies include those with spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, stroke, burns, cancer and osteoarthritis.
Most patients will receive a series of three stem cell injections spaced out between two to five days. The first injection is a pre-injection procedure, wherein a solution of dextrose (simple sugars) is applied to the injured area to prepare it for the stem cells. The next injection is the actual stem cells.
Stem cell procedures utilize cells from your own body, are minimally invasive, use only a needle, and therefore have significantly reduced risks/complications compared to the surgical alternative. Nerves, blood vessels, and lymphatics are uninterrupted.
Stem cells survive much longer than ordinary cells, increasing the chance that they might accumulate genetic mutations. It might take only a few mutations for one cell to lose control over its self-renewal and growth and become the source of cancer.
Conclusion. Patients who have survived for at least 5 years after hematopoietic cell transplantation without recurrence of the original disease have a high probability of surviving for an additional 15 years, but life expectancy is not fully restored.
While the effects of stem cell therapy can be long-lasting, it's not generally considered to be a permanent solution.
If you suffer from chronic pain, you will likely be a good candidate for stem cell therapy. However, it is not just for those suffering from chronic pain. This type of therapy can be used for those with various kinds of conditions. Those suffering from osteoarthritis also make good candidates for stem cell therapy.
Many people disagree with using human embryonic cells for medical research because extracting them means destroying the embryo. This creates complex issues, as people have different beliefs about what constitutes the start of human life.
Right now the most commonly used stem cell-based therapy is bone marrow transplantation. Blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow were the first stem cells to be identified and were the first to be used in the clinic.
At first glance, the costs of stem cell-based therapies may come as a shock. The reason it can be more expensive than other treatments is that there are many procedures involved related to product safety and production in general. Additionally, innovative therapies tend to be more expensive than established therapies.
Origins of Stem Cells
Embryonic stem cells are derived from blastocysts created by in vitro fertilization (IVF) for reproductive purposes and then donated for research. Adult stem cells, on the other hand, are found in small numbers in various tissues in the body, such as bone marrow and fat.