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- In England, a man with multiple sclerosis can walk and dance for the first time in 10 years after receiving a stem cell transplant.
- Roy Palmer spent the last decade in a wheelchair without feeling any sensation in his legs.
- He decided to undergo a procedure known as hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) after viewing the results of a television program.
- Two days after receiving treatment, Palmer found his legs.
- HSCT is still considered experimental and may cause side effects, such as infections and infertility, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
A man from Gloucester, England, can walk and dance for the first time in 10 years after receiving a revolutionary stem cell transplant for his multiple sclerosis, CBS News reported on Wednesday.
Roy Palmer, a 49-year-old wheelchair user, chose to undergo the hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) treatment after watching a BBC program that showed the results of the treatment.
Palmer would have found the sensation in his legs, two days after receiving the treatment.
The treatment of HSCT, which uses stem cells to "restart" the immune system, is still considered risky by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Treatment, which is still in the experimental stage and has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, may result in long-term side effects, such as infections and infertility.
Multiple sclerosis is a disorder in which the body systems that are supposed to preserve health mistakenly attack the protective coating of the nerves. This causes damage to communication between the spinal cord and the brain, according to Healthline.com. In severe cases like Palmer's, the disease can lead to paralysis, loss of vision and decreased brain function.
"They take stem cells from your body," Palmer told the BBC. "They give you chemotherapy to kill the rest of your immune system."
Healthline reported that nearly 2.3 million people had multiple sclerosis worldwide. Researchers still need to identify the cause of the disease.
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