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Real members of MyCOPDTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.
A MyCOPDTeam Member asked a question 💭
Elgin, IL
October 25, 2016
 · 
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A MyCOPDTeam Member

There are no stem cell treatments for COPD that have been proven to work. The companies that offer them have lots of testimonials from people who would have you believe that they came to the center weighed down by their O2, on inhaler after inhaler, unable to do anything but cough and gasp, and after treatment, they threw their O2 away, tossed their meds and went skipping down the sidewalk. Ask the people fronting these organizations for any proof that their treatment works, such as, increase in FEV1, reduction in use of O2, reduced medications, improvement in 6 minute walk, or even improvement in quality of life as measured by any of the clinically approved measures (St. George, CAT, etc.) and they get very quiet. My friend, Dr. Robert Sandhaus, a world renowned pulmonologist at National Jewish in Denver, calls it "snake oil". There's a reason neither Medicare nor any insurance company will pay for the treatment. And there's a reason they're charging $3000 to $10,000 for treatment: they want your money.

That said, most of the clinicians and researchers in COPD I know believe that the cure will probably have something to do with stem cells, and there are remarkable things being done in regenerative medicine at a number of universities and research centers, so there is progress being made. There just aren't any treatments now that have had any success.

October 25, 2016
A MyCOPDTeam Member

Lung Institute they have 6 clinics across USA

October 25, 2016
A MyCOPDTeam Member

Just as I thought but researchers must keep trying

October 27, 2016
A MyCOPDTeam Member

I spoke to my doctor about the piece, he did look into it and as Jean stated that it is not what they claim.

October 26, 2016
A MyCOPDTeam Member

I was in clinic study for an inhaler and I got paid plus free meds

October 27, 2016

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