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VesCell Treatment for Heart Disease FAQ |
VesCell for Heart Disease - Frequently Asked Questions |
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1. What is VesCell?
VesCell is a proprietary "autologous" stem cell therapy developed by TheraVitae. Aw-TAHL-a-gus means cells from the patient back to the patient. A half-pint of blood is taken from the patient, sent to the lab and processed, and the resulting stem cells are implanted into the heart of the same patient.
Autologous stem cell therapy has numerous advantages. Unlike embryonic stem cells, there is no risk of cancer or immune rejection because they come from the patient they will treat.
VesCell therapy uses angiogenic cell precursors, or ACPs, the stem cells whose normal function is to repair damaged blood vessels. When injected into and around the heart, these cells build new blood vessels and restore function to the damaged heart tissue.
Unlike other autologous adult stem cell therapies which harvest stem cells from bone marrow, VesCell’s harvesting process is simple and as non-invasive as making a blood donation.
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2. What types of heart disease can VesCell treat?
Cutting-edge cardiologists and heart surgeons currently use VesCell to treat patients suffering from coronary artery disease (angina), cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure (CHF).
Many candidates for VesCell therapy have exhausted their other treatment options. But VesCell can, in most cases if necessary, be used in conjunction with coronary artery bypass graft surgery and angioplasty.
VesCell stem cell therapy may also be a viable alternative for patients with other medical conditions that make conventional procedures too risky or otherwise not possible.
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3. How can I find out if I can be treated now?
The first step is to complete the simple form on this website titled HEART TREATMENT INQUIRY. You will be assigned a personal consultant who will answer all your questions and then assist you in gathering everything you need. A cardiologist will then review your medical record. There is no charge or obligation for this medical review process.
Disqualifying conditions include recent cancer, HIV, or Hepatitis B and C.
If you qualify, a cardiologist will recommend the appropriate course of treatment.
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4. How would I benefit from VesCell adult stem cell treatment for heart disease?
The most common form of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which is an ischemia or a reduction of blood flow caused by blockage in the arteries. Over time this reduced flow of blood to the heart muscle causes cardiomyopathy, or actual damage to the heart muscle, causing portions of the heart to stop functioning altogether and ultimately heart failure occurs.
While VesCell therapy does not cure heart disease, it can substantially improve the flow of blood to the heart in a large majority (70%) of patients. The first result is an increase in energy, then a decrease in fatigue. Next comes easier breathing and an increase in physical capacity. In as little as a month after treatment, maximum three months, patients experience an improvement in quality of life and are again able to enjoy activities once restricted by their illness.
We know that based on your long term experience with cardiologists who have done nothing to improve your quality of life, you will find these claims hard to believe. That is why we have an UNLIMITED number of treated patients who wish to encourage you---some who have experienced 3, 4 or 5 years of a wonderful new life. There are even some who were treated during the past six months who are still wondering how they got so much better so quickly. They WANT to talk with you so they can “give something back!”
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5. How much will my treatment cost, and what does that include?
The inclusive cost for your treatment is $54,000. It includes VesCell collection, transportation, and processing of your stem cells by highly trained cell biologists and immunologists at our lab in Israel.
- All hospital charges for the cell harvesting and delivery procedures, including room and board, incidental charges, catherization charges, operating room charges, ICU/CCU charges, and post-therapy testing.
- All physician charges directly related to your VesCell adult stem cell therapy including: attending cardiologists, invasive cardiologist for catheter cell implants or cardio-surgeons and anesthesiologist for minimally-invasive surgery patients, and any other necessary physicians.
- Airport pickup on arrival and drop off at departure.
- Post-treatment follow-up from a Patient Care Follow-Up Coordinator (PFC). Upon your return home, you’ll receive regular phone calls from your PFC to check how you are doing and provide answers to post-treatment questions you may have.
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6. That sounds like a lot, will insurance cover my treatment?
Although the costs at our treating hospitals are only a fraction of what you would pay in the USA, the VesCell process is relatively new and the current volume of cases (about 100 per year) is not yet high enough to lower the cost of individual treatments. We wish that VesCell were cheaper, and eventually it will be.
If you consider that about 70% of our patients experience significant improvement in their quality of life then the price may not be too much to bear.
We encourage you to investigate adult stem cell therapy and provide a good starting point for your research on this website. For the full and complete picture, just click on CLICK HERE FOR PERSONAL APPLICATION at the top of any page. Fill out the simple form and we'll take it from there.
We also encourage you to watch the patient videos and contact our Patient Volunteers who will gladly share their experiences about their own VesCell treatments.
The final word on this subject from one of our founders: “You have been taking their pills and their useless therapies for years while steadily going downhill toward an early grave. But those who have been selling these medicines to you are profiting very nicely. Isn’t it time YOU started profiting?”
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7. I live in the United States, why should I travel for treatment?
Although VesCell therapy has undergone clinical trials and has more peer-reviewed published scientific papers to its credit than all the other heart stem cell treating companies combined, gaining approval anywhere in the developed world is impossible without $100,000,000 (which we do not have) and even then, highly unlikely.
Pharma controls medicine 100% in the USA and almost that much in the entire developed world. Big international companies own every element of government; (executive, legislative and judicial) and since they do not wish their outrageous profits disturbed, approval any time during the lives of all of today’s heart patients is optimistic. After all, why would all-powerful Pharma allow it to be known that heart patients who take their pills and don’t get stem cells deteriorate while the stem cell patients improve dramatically? Most of all, they use their power-to-bribe over governments and media to hide that fact that their patients die at five times the rate of stem cell patients! For proof of this, see: https://www.vescell.com/heart-epi.htm
Travel for treatment in 2011 will be to two locations: Europe and Latin America. The latter is only a two hour flight from Miami. Also, the old system of two weeks in Bangkok is history. In some cases you can be away from home for as little as 4-5 days. In Europe, 11 days is the max. That is because the original method of implant into the heart muscle was with surgery and a full general anesthesia. Today, with new modern catheters, precisely implanting the stem cells is like a normal angiogram, (NO anesthesia) therefore no 5-7 days in the hospital. In most cases one overnight is enough.
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8. What happens once we arrive?
Your Patient Care Coordinator (PCC) will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Your PCC will help you register and see that you're settled into your room.
Once you are comfortable, he or she will review your schedule and answer any questions you may have. Your PCC will be with you whenever you travel between the hotel and the hospital and is never more than phone call away should you have questions or need assistance.
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9. How long will I need to stay and what is the treatment schedule?
The entire procedure takes approximately 11 days.,,,After your blood is drawn, usually the morning after you arrive, it is then couriered to VesCells lab where it is processed. While waiting for your stem cells to return, you'll have a few days to relax. If you wish to enjoy a little sightseeing, your PCC can help you make arrangements.
In about a week, your stem cells will be returned from the lab and immediately implanted surgically or via catheter. For the next one or two days, you will remain in the hospital for observation. Your stem cell cardiologist will prepare a full medical report for you to take home to your home Doctor(s).
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10. Are there side effects and what are the risks, if any?
The risks involved are similar to those of a standard angiogram.To date, VesCell™ therapy has produced no significant side effects or adverse permanent
complications. However, any therapy may have side effects. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that no complications will occur. |
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11. My doctor would like to receive information about stem cell therapy for heart disease? How can I provide him with it?
Once the treating physicians have received your medical information, we can arrange for an American cardiologist to talk to your cardiologist. We also provide you with a full information packet (via email) to pass on to your doctor(s).
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12. Can I speak with a patient who has been treated?
Yes, we can arrange phone conversations with one or more of our Patient Volunteers. Patient Volunteers are already-treated patients who have been kind enough to donate their time and sharetheir experiences with those who are currently considering VesCell™ stem cell therapy.
TheraVitae is dedicated to saving lives and improving quality of life; one patient at a time.
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