Mar 30 2009
STEM CELL TREATMENT IS NOT FOR THE BODY BEAUTIFUL
Journalists SAMANTHA SIMMONDS and ANGELA LEVIN were reviewing the weekend papers on SKY NEWS when they hit upon a story about stem cell treatment for breast augmentation. They’re both experienced and mature enough to know better but discussed the item almost as a joke.
Wonderful advances in stem cell research are helping to save people’s lives and in my view the treatment should not be used for trivial cosmetic purposes.
Nor do artificial breast implants help everyone. I remember with everlasting sadness how a close family friend had an implant following a mastectomy but went on to die when the cancer returned and fairly rampaged throughout her entire system.
‘Linda’ as I name her for this item was an enormously strong character with a highly developed self-image and remained elegantly dressed and made-up even through the worst of her illness. It was this self-image that made her go through with the implant - which was not easy - indeed she once described in fine detail how she would walk up and down her landing at night to ease the intense pressure from the implant which would not let her sleep.
For my part, I am convinced it was her undoing and that without it we would be enjoying her energising company to this day. As it is, we buried her more than 10 years ago and my final memory of her barely alive was visiting her at the CHRISTIE HOSPITAL, South Manchester and noticing her elegantly manicured and painted nails as the one remaining vestige of her once immaculate frame.
More recently another dear friend has undergone radical self-stem cell treatment for lymphoma. She, too, has remained remained wonderful to look at while unbelievably brave throughout her awful illness and treatment. But recently she revealed that she is rather poorly again and I can only pray that her medical advisers may help her once more.
If any medical professionals happen on this piece I beg them not to allow stem cell treatment to be used frivolously but to fight for it to be confined to saving the lives of people we love. I certainly will.
msniw
