Are you for or against using stem cell research for a cure for cancer and why?

The reason I am asking this is because I am writing a research paper for college on the topic. I am a Catholic and also conservative (normally against stem cell research) but my mother had cancer when I was younger so of course if she didn't have to go through what she did I should love the idea. I was just wondering other people's opinions as a sort of "poll" type-source, unscholarly of course.

Are you for or against using stem cell research for a cure for cancer and why?
Catholic, against embryonic stem cell research, for imbilical cord stem cell research.
Reply:I am for the use of stem cell research. We can cure so many diseases with it. Plus it is not like people are getting pregnant JUST to abort and give the fetus away. I saw on the news that everyday, in North America, 20,000 aborted fetuses are tossed in the trashed everyday. I say we use those ones, who will be dumped either way, and do the research. I do not support abortions just for the purpose of it.
Reply:What type of stem cells are you talking about? There are incredible things being done with adult stem cells, and also amniotic stem cells (growing a heart valve, for instance, for babies born with weakened heart valves). Absolutely yes on those.





Fetal cells, I'm still not decided on that one.
Reply:I'm for the use of embryonic stem cells. They offer the most potential for finding cures for the most serious diseases and illnesses.





I'm for the use of any research which has a hope of curing said diseases.





The ridiculous thing is the apparent logical disconnect of people when embryonic stem cells are mentioned. These people have no problem with invitro fertilization, in which potentially dozens of perfectly good eggs are destroyed or discarded if it means that a couple can give birth to their own baby. But if scientists want to use refrigerated embryos that would otherwise be discarded as biological waste to do stem cell research, everyone screams 'Oh noes! They want to kill babies!!'





Shake your head people.
Reply:There are different kinds of stem cell research. I presume you're talking about embryonic stem cell research, which I support whole-heartedly as someone diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 25 (for those of you not familiar with that, it's a chronic illness and the reason you see all the little old ladies with the knobby, deformed hands).





I think every avenue available to us should be explored. I'm not saying we should be harvesting and creating embryos for use in stem cell research, but there are thousands of eggs left over from in vitro fertilization that will simply be discarded. If the "parents" of those eggs want to donate them to science, why shouldn't they be allowed to? It's their genetic material. People are allowed to donate their bodies to science once they die (my dad plans to do this), so why shouldn't a man and woman, if they're in agreement, be allowed to donate genetic material that will otherwise go in the trash can?
Reply:Stem Cell research --- fine


Embryonic Stem Cell research ----No way.


I am a Catholic.
Reply:I don't think You'll find many people who are against the use of stem cells. what is controversial is the origin of the stem cells used . currently the easiest and least expensive method of obtaining them is from a fetus . there are Other methods being researched but the quality and expense at which they are obtained is debated .


as for myself I would say that the current methods should be acceptable as far as research goes into treatment but only for research not for "production " . for that there needs to be further research into producing other means of producing stem cells.
Reply:Stem cells for treatment for cancer is a while off. Notice though that embryonic stem cells, for therapeutic use, are more effective than adult stem-cells, hence why they're at the centre of the debate currently.





That said, there was a medical trial in Europe where a man's substantia nigra ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substantia_... ) wasn't producing enough dopamine, causing Parkinson's. Using embryonic stem-cells, they regenerated 80% of the mans substantia nigra and 'cured' his Parkinson's on his left side. That's where the research is headed and has more immediate promise.





And that's why it's so important to get as much research out there as possible.

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