Peyton Manning’s Stem Cell Hail Mary
EmailIndianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has become the newest face of stem cell therapy in a treatment decision that has elicited mixed opinions from top doctors in the field.
Buzz about Manning’s decision to fly to Europe to take advantage of an FDA-unapproved stem cell treatment for his neck exploded this weekend with a report on Fox’s NFL pre-game show by Jay Glazer.
The bulging disk in Manning’s neck has thus far defied three surgical repair attempts and months of physical therapy, and the 35-year-old QB is expected to be out of the game for two to three months, and possibly more. Manning has already missed his team’s first two games.
He has not kept his disappointment at his slow recovery a secret.
“To say I am disappointed in not being able to play is an understatement,” Manning said in a statement released by his team earlier this month. “I simply am not healthy enough to play, and I am doing everything I can to get my health back.”
According to a report in the New York Daily News, the alleged stem cell treatment did not work, resulting in the team subsequently deeming the surgery “uneventful.”
Dr. Ruth Macklin, professor of bioethics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, called Manning’s reported action “an act of desperation.
“We live in an era where physicians are encouraged to practice ‘evidence-based’ medicine,” she told ABCNews.com in an email. “However, a sports superstar has the money and ability to travel anywhere in the world to receive an experimental procedure that is not based on any evidence that it works for his condition.”
Indeed, Dr. Lawrence Goldstein, director of the University of California-San Diego Stem Cell Program, said he was unaware of any stem cell approach that is proven to help “any sort of spinal issue.
“There are many proposed therapies that are being tested in clinical trials, and there are more to come,” Goldstein said in an email. “But in the absence of reliable evidence, it is impossible to know whether the ‘treatment’ will make Manning better or worse or merely financially poorer.”
Goldstein also expressed concern about the message Manning might be sending to the general public with regard to unproven treatments if the report is true.
“When a highly visible celebrity athlete chooses to undergo an untested/unproven therapy, and if they happen to get better without knowing whether the therapy is what caused the improvement, they encourage many other people to ignore scientific evidence and to substitute hope and blind trust for proof,” he said. “The downside is that many people might be hurt by subjecting themselves to a risky procedure, or procedure with unknown risks, when there is no evidence of benefit to be gained.”
Macklin added that Manning could have made a more socially responsible choice by instead seeking out and enrolling in a clinical trial using this or another intervention.
“Although Manning is not engaged in an action that is clearly unethical, it sets a bad example,” she said. ”It would, indeed, be a bad thing if injured pro athletes were to fly all over the world looking for cures when the procedure in question is unproven. It would not advance science. And there are plenty of quacks out there.”
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The US is full of quacks that do half the job in order to prescribe prescriptions to people who are going to be dependent for the rest of their life. The advancement of science will need to be a global approach and not some people saying one thing is right or wrong. As far as FDA approval goes, they approve medicines that have side effects far worse than the sickness itself. My question is why hasn’t the FDA approved any cures for anything? Just treatments that me and you will have to buy to live.
Posted by: Eric Powell | September 19, 2011 September 19, 2011, 4:00 pm
He is a great quaterback and will be a first Ballet Hall of Famer that should retire, his health is alot more important that play hurt and risk a serious injury.
Posted by: Thomas | September 19, 2011 September 19, 2011, 4:12 pm
You don’t know too much about science, do you Eric Powell… What cures are you hoping the FDA to approve? For HIV? For cancer? The common cold… Well, it’s probably because there aren’t any… You think scientists just #### around and are avoiding finding curing diseases so people can make money? If you only knew how much money and time they spend on busting their butts off just for things to go wrong in clinical testing, wasting a decades worth of work… As much as the general public believes that they should be easily cured from what ails them, but that’s not the world we live in… The advancement of science IS a global approach, if you chose to look in to that, but some countries have higher standards in accepting scientific data than others. That, sir, is a good thing. You say that the FDA approves stuff that has bad side effects… Well, there’d be a lot more drugs that are worse if the FDA didn’t have the standards currently in place…
Posted by: what the deuce? | September 19, 2011 September 19, 2011, 4:22 pm
I agree with Eric that the FDA regularly approves drugs with horrible side effects while also allowing the sale of OTC medicines with the small-print caveat that “These claims have not been substantiated by the FDA”.
Concerning the stem cell therapy, I find it ludicrous to scold Manning as a “poster boy for quack medicine” per se. Anyone with the money to pursue alternate health therapy should be free to do so.
Posted by: CasualObserver | September 19, 2011 September 19, 2011, 4:33 pm
His body. His choice.
Posted by: MNMom1980 | September 19, 2011 September 19, 2011, 4:47 pm
The FDA is not the be-all, end-all of worldwide medicine. The United States of America has the worst healthcare of any country in the civilized world. Takes way too long to get new medicines approved – not until they can make the most money. You pay more for drugs and doctors in the USA than any place in the WORLD. Nearly every single American doctor takes kickbacks from drug companies for prescribing drugs you don’t even NEED! And then you have the crazy, uneducated, religiously-motivated crazies trying to make sure that helpful treatments such as stem cell therapy is not available to people who may need it. Then, you get someone like President Obama who tries to ensure that every American has the right to see a doctor when they are sick, and your Republicans do everything to make sure it doesn’t happen. Sick, SICK SICK!
Posted by: Divergirl | September 19, 2011 September 19, 2011, 5:05 pm
Ah, Diverticulitisgirl, a liberal rant against Repubs because your man in the White House botched his healthcare plan so badly. Go to a country with socialized medicine and see how quickly you get medical care when you come up with…oh let’s say a case of the bends.
Posted by: CasualObserver | September 19, 2011 September 19, 2011, 5:09 pm
Seriously? The article points out that Manning has the means to fly all over the world to get an unproven treatment. Obviously, not many people have the means to do so. So why should he worry about being “socially responsible” with his medical decisions? Are we really expected to believe that a large number of Manning fans will jump on planes to get experimental treatments in Europe, just because he did? Um, I think not. Most just want him to get healthy and back on the field as soon as possible. Football is obviously his passion and he will do anything to keep playing at a high level, even if it means trying an unproven treatment. Leave him alone and write about something important.
Posted by: Kimberly | September 19, 2011 September 19, 2011, 5:16 pm
Casual observer, what a typical attitude of ‘if you don’t agree with me you can leave.’ But I already have, thank you. Living overseas has brought home how shocking it is that majority of Americans have no idea just how good the rest of the world has it. The United States of America is an absolutely third-rate nation in terms of health care. For example, 1/3 of people will experience cancer in their lifetimes. Why, in the United States of America, are people forced to sell their houses in order to pay for medicine that costs nearly nothing to produce??? Why aren’t more Americans DEMANDING better?
Posted by: Divergirl | September 19, 2011 September 19, 2011, 5:17 pm
DiverGirl Being married to someone in the Pharma industry I have a little different view of what you are talking about. First over 80% of the new medicines are developed in the US because the US has a profit motive that is not present in Europe. That is why Cambridge is considered a cluster for bio-pharma. Secondly, the cost to develop a compound is truely horrific in costs, To prove first safety, then efficacy, then that it is better than the drugs it will replace is a huge task. it is done in parallel in the US, Europe and Asia. If you want the advancement of medicines to stop, force the drug companies to stop recouping their costs and then some.
Posted by: John | September 19, 2011 September 19, 2011, 6:23 pm
I am sure Manning was advised it was a hail mary to receive stem cells. He didn’t forgo conventional treatment however. FDA approved surgery along with physical therapy was tried and failed. If the public was to take away anything which I don’t think they will in this case, it would be that conventional medicine doesn’t fix everything always. Stem cell treatments are varying in degree of danger, and much has been sorted out in clinical trials… and some created tumors and death. So clinical trials are not any more a responsible choice as a pat rebuttal. the drs. didn’t even know what type of cells he received. They could have been his own which carries low risk compared to donor cells. I think they are just happy to be quoted. The author of the article claims irresponsible treatment but where are the responsible facts to go along with claim? It not working is no big deal… and did he release the fact he went for this? If not he was responsible guarding his medical privacy and others are promoting what he chose to do.
Posted by: Poejoe | September 19, 2011 September 19, 2011, 8:47 pm
I hope Peyton Manning’s treatment in Europe will be successful and that he will be able to return quickly to play for the Colts. He is seeking treatment in Europe because that type of treatment is not yet available in the states. I have heard Europe offers a lot of leading medical treatments for everything from stem cell treatment to immunological treatments for cancers and many others. But, I can’t find how one finds those treatment options. Can anyone tell me who to contact if I were interested in available treatments for cancer in Europe? Celebrities and athletes have these options and I’d like to try to have the option too.
Posted by: Kelley | September 20, 2011 September 20, 2011, 1:40 am
I agree w/MNMOM his body his choice.
Posted by: Jenny72756 | September 20, 2011 September 20, 2011, 8:22 am
The use of fat stem cells a rapidly becoming a treatment of choice for many conditions, as usual the FDA has been lagging behind in this area requiring people to go off shore. If a patient wants to use their own fat stem cells for treatment they should be allowed to do so. I am going to store my fat stem cells for future use, like an insurance policy, with American Cryostem, It was in the news a few weeks ago that Gov Rick Perry also used fat stem cell therapy for his back, had to go to Panama. He like Manning took grief about their treatments.
Posted by: harry930 | September 20, 2011 September 20, 2011, 9:33 am
OK-I realize I am not a DR or medical expert as the only experience I might have is when I have been worked on for whatever malady, and being married to a woman that has worked in a fairly large hospital for 36 yr. To step out on a limb and just more or less guess-Isn’t the way they build up evidence come to by actually trying it out on people? The US has always demanded more stringent testing (sometimes many years) than Europe. The Dr. interviewed for this article come across two ways with their answers: 1) CYA-afraid of malpractice they are not going to commit unless Jesus Christ himself tells them and even then, they would demand He sign off on it to give them deniability. 2) Pompous Stuffed A** spoiled children that seem to say ‘How dare you differ with me.”
Posted by: Justcharlie | September 20, 2011 September 20, 2011, 12:07 pm
I believe that Manning has the right to look for a treatment of his condition wherever he feels that may help him. However, he should think twice before he put himself in a situation that may not be helpful to him and others. Manning should be more cautious and responsible about its decision as a super star and a model for others.
Posted by: Dee Dupervil | September 20, 2011 September 20, 2011, 8:24 pm
His body. His choice.
====interesting. His choice…to use a treatment that utilizes the fact that someone got an abortion ,and not one, not one, ring wingers freaking out about him using part of an “unborn” child. wow. I guess when it comes to a guy, he’s entiteld to “his body. his choice”. amazing.
Posted by: WellLetsBHonestHere | September 21, 2011 September 21, 2011, 12:58 pm
Stem cell therapy using adult stem cells from fat is being done in the USA, specifically in Rancho Mirage, CA. My husband is a quadriplegic and travelled to Germany 2 years ago to have his stem cells harvested from bone marrow to try to help with his injury because the therapy was not available in America. He is speaking to 2 doctors that take an MRI with dye in it, examine it and determine if stem cells will help him. He did have some modest recovery from the 1st treatment in Germany. I am amazed and concerned at the amount of negativity and misinformation I read in Amercian media. One of the Drs. my hubby is speaking to went to Russia 12 years ago for throat cancer because he was tired of chemo and radiation. They gave him a 5% chance of living 3 years. I need say no more.
Posted by: Kimmyb13 | September 21, 2011 September 21, 2011, 5:47 pm
Here it is folks…
You make more money TREATING a disease than you do CURING one.
Posted by: Reality | September 22, 2011 September 22, 2011, 11:41 am
As a role model, Manning (or any other role model) does need to be cognizant of his actions. But does he not have the same rights as anyone else to live his life to the fullest? It just so happens he has the means and motivation to pursue all options. “Winners never quit” is not a bad message for him to send. What if Manning had sustained a much more serious spinal cord injury instead of a bulging disc injury? Would the same physicians criticize him for going to Europe for stem cell therapy? Put yourself in Manning’s cleats – What would you do if you were paralyzed? Would you go to Europe for stem cell therapy if there were a possibility it would help?
Posted by: Sports Doc | September 23, 2011 September 23, 2011, 3:04 pm
More power to him in trying different avenues. I wish him all the luck. As far as stem cell treaments, I am thrilled to see a well known person going that route. How else will it ever be proven and approved! I have a nephew with diabetes, and can only hope someday they approve it over here, and Find a Cure! God Bless you Paeyton and good luck. I am a huge fan and hope to see you back on the field soon.
Posted by: laurie | September 24, 2011 September 24, 2011, 12:22 am
There’s a fundamental issue that the mainstream media seems to be missing here. I thought Manning was a staunch Republican/ conservative? Considering what stem cell therapy/ surgery consists of, this certainly brings his political leaning into question. I wonder what his fellow Republicans would say if the surgery had been successful and he’d become the poster-child for the procedure? But, of course, it’s okay for sports stars (like politicians) to profess one thing and do completely the opposite. To save Manning’s life, no stone should be left unturned, right? When other stars (Christopher Reeves, for example) had said procedure, he was ridiculed for it, based on a pro-life belief system from the political right. Now that Manning has attempted the same thing, the media drops the pro-life and protection of the unborn argument altogether, because… it’s Peyton Manning… and it’s okay, right? Who’s more hypocritical? Republican party financial contributor, Manning, or the media? These days, does it matter? Above article is POINTLESS.
Posted by: Lukrezia | September 26, 2011 September 26, 2011, 6:37 pm
My great grandfather had stage three colon cancer when they finally realized he even had it five years ago. He went through chemotherapy and the whole nine yards. The chemo, though, messed up his brain and he acts like a child and he cant speak properly. He gets bored and confused easily and half of the time he doesnt understand what’s going on. He’s limited to three or four words per sentence and you can only imagine how frustrating that is! Then, right as it was about to hit stage four, the cancer cells started decreasing rapidly. Amazingly, a year later, he was free of cancer all together. My whole family rejoiced and praised the Lord for saving his life. It would have left a great impact on my life because he and my great grandmother raised me from three months old because my parents were off doing things they shouldnt have been doing. But he’s alive and well today and i’m very thankful for that. He’s 76 years old and is still my most favorite grandfather in the whole world! If he would’ve had this treatment Peyton Manning is having, he would be his old self and he wouldn’t act so differently. I believe this just might be the cure for cancer as long as these stem cells do what they’re directed to do instead of going after the vital organs beforehand.
Posted by: Destiny | September 30, 2011 September 30, 2011, 10:17 am
There ARE ways to cure cancer. However, you will NEVER see them in the USSA. The AMA, FDA, American Cancer Society all see to it that these cures never see the light of day. There are evil agendas planned at the highest levels that would make most Americans heads explode if they only knew. And even if they were informed, most would deny. Harmful ingredients in foods, drugs that are worse than the disease, supression of alternative energies, supression of medical cures, a Keynesian monetary system that robs us all and gives to the govt and rich, mainstream media LYING to us EVERY DAY, censorship and criminalization of dissent, I could increase the list ad infinitum…
Posted by: Slvrizgold | October 13, 2011 October 13, 2011, 5:34 pm