Sept. 9, 2013, 11 p.m. IF YOU could bottle Sarah Moncks courage and attitude, you could solve a lot of the worlds problems. The 26-year-old former Ballarat Rush basketballer and assistant coach was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) earlier this year, but shes not letting it beat her. In fact, the diagnosis in May was a relief to the popular basketballer after months of uncertainty. She is a strong believer there are people worse off than she is. Im young and fit and, at the moment, I dont have any symptoms ... so Im lucky, she said. Moncks onset of symptoms was fairly rapid and they hit her hard. In a five-week period late last year, she suffered vision loss, tingling sensation in her mouth, pins and needles down one side of her body, she was unstable on her feet and one side of her face dropped on Christmas Day. On December 27 she was admitted to hospital, where she underwent a series of drugs that greatly eased her symptoms. However, it took another five months before she was diagnosed with lesions on her brain and MS. Continue reading here: Former Ballarat Rush star's battle with MS … Continue reading →

The Saskatchewan government is contemplating its next step after a clinic in the United States cancelled its trial into a controversial treatment for symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The Saskatchewan Party government was informed recently that the Albany Medical Centre is stopping its clinical trial into the effectiveness of angioplasty in treating chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and relieving the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Dr. Gary Siskin, who had been heading up the study, told the Ministry of Health that he was unable to meet the enrolment numbers necessary for the study to produce statistically valid results. Although Saskatchewan had a planned 86 participants, the research team in Albany could not recruit enough participants to meet United States government requirements for a clinical trial. The therapy involves opening blocked veins in the neck. It is not available in Canada and despite some MS patients receiving the therapy overseas, it remains scientifically unproven. Saskatchewan has more people suffering from MS than any province in Canada. The Ministry of Health says it will work with its health and research partners to explore other options. This news is disappointing for the approximately 3,500 Saskatchewan people who want to know whether this kind of … Continue reading →

A clinical trial for the so-called liberation treatment for multiple sclerosis has been cancelled. Saskatchewan had planned to put up $2.2-million to have 86 patients take part in the trial at a medical centre in Albany, N.Y. But the centre has told the province that it wont test the therapy that involves opening blocked neck veins. The trial lead, Dr. Gary Siskin, said they couldnt get enough volunteers for a valid result. Meaning that we needed to have a certain number of patients where, at the end of the trial, wed be able to test the data that we had in a statistically meaningful way and without the right number of patients, those results would be meaningless, Siskin said Monday. Just under 200 people were needed. Siskin said he believes there are two reasons for the lack of volunteers. One is that some physicians question the therapy and didnt push patients to join the trial. The second is that it was a double-blind trial meaning half of those participating would have received liberation therapy and half would get a placebo procedure. The patients would not know which one they got for several years. Its easy to say that everyone would … Continue reading →

; Albany researchers cancel MS liberation therapy clinical trial that was using Sask. patients. Supplied / 3D4Medical REGINA A clinical trial to determine the benefits of MS liberation therapy has been cancelled by the researchers. The Albany Medical Clinic informed the Saskatchewan government it is unable to meet the target enrolment necessary for the study to produce statistically valid results. This news is disappointing for the approximately 3,500 Saskatchewan people who want to know whether this kind of treatment can help relieve MS symptoms, said Health Minister Dustin Duncan. MS liberation therapy is a controversial treatment that involves the widening of veins in the neck to improve blood flow to the brain. Some studies have questioned whether the narrowed veins cause MS while proponents of the treatment claim it helps to alleviate the symptoms of MS. Our government wants to do everything it can to search for answers and further the science for people with MS, said Duncan. Thats why Saskatchewan was supportive of this trial and will continue to be supportive of research that may provide answers for those with MS and their families. Saskatchewan had 86 patients planning to take part in the study but the research team … Continue reading →