I love Wired Magazine. It’s informative, edgy and helps me stay connected with current technology, trends and details about incredibly diverse markets. I keep my copies and read and re-read them, because an article or information in Wired this month will show up in another publication next – and remind me I should look at the data again.
The cover story of Wired – November 2010 was about engineered tissue. Breasts were the focus of the article. “New and improved. How tissue engineering can help the body rebuild itself." This article was researched and written by Sharon Begley.
The long and short of it --- use our own fat tissue injected back into the body to rebuild surgically damaged breasts. Cytori Therapeutics has developed technology to use the stem cells of our fat tissue to rebuild or remodel the breast following lumpectomy or other surgical procedures that alter (deform) our shape. As in all newer medical applications, Cytori is still working to get FDA approval to begin clinical trials in the United States.
Cytori was able to work with Japanese research physicians to begin human trials in early to mid-2000. Next was a clinical trial in Europe using a second generation process for women who had partial mastectomies. The number of participants in each trial was very small. Approximately 20 women are followed in each clinical trail.
Stem-cell re-growth of tissue isn’t a new concept. It still is wrought with technical and political backlash. This article provides a very good synopsis of the risks and benefits of fat stem cell use. The key problem is the need to stimulate the cells into growth and also staying in place where they are injected. “The problem is that the reason adipose regenerative cells work – inducing the formation of blood vessels—is also the reason they might be dangerous, especially to cancer survivors. Such angiogenesis, after all, is what allows metastatic tumors to thrive.” Begley goes on to outline how researchers are studying and dealing with these issues. (this is a critical part of a big problem and we'll discuss this one later too)
Not ready for prime time? Breast remodeling with fat tissue in the general population is still a ways off. It is difficult to say how long before it happens. Other applications (plastic surgery) using re-injected fat cells are already being done. The time to determine what you’d do if you received the diagnosis of breast cancer is before you do- and hopefully you never will! It’s time to become more informed about what is happening in all phases of the process.
Human tissue re-engineering holds a lot of potential --- but it’s not your answer today. Disease prevention is still the most effective and cost-effective way to deal with your health. Just as another of my favorite authors says “acceptance is the key to all our problems”. Do what you can to accept your responsibility for the shape you’re in. This is something you can change. Cutting off your hand for a hang nail will only ensure you won’t have a hang nail on that hand. You have two hands. The same can be said for breasts -- cutting them off and rebuilding may not be the answer to potential disease problems. "Fifty-six percent of double mastectomies believe this will prevent future cancer – even though studies find no survival advantage in removing the healthy breast."
This discussion is to be continued ----- but let know what you think. To Be or Not to Be (rebuilt) Is it the Question?
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