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I'm looking into the possibility of getting one of those platelet-plasma shots for my knee arthritis. I'll stop at nothing until I can get some pain relief from this problem. The question I have is: can I get this treatment if I've had cancer? I know it's supposed to help speed up blood supply and healing to the area. Could that also cause cancer cells to grow faster? I am getting chemotherapy for the rest of my life for ovarian cancer.
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Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a fairly new treatment technique under consideration and study for the treatment of a wide range of medical problems including after plastic surgery and surgery on the mouth, jaw, and neck. It seems to promote bone graft healing and wound healing. The benefits of this treatment have brought it to the attention of others who have tried it for spinal fusions, bone fractures, and chronic conditions like tennis elbow. Platelet-rich plasma has also been used with positive results for patients with degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis that result in joint damage from wear and tear.
Platelet-rich plasma refers to a sample of blood plasma that has more than the normal amount of platelets. To get this substance, a portion of the blood is removed from a patient and placed in a machine called a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins the blood fast enough to separate it into layers based on weight. Heavier parts (e.g., red blood cells) stay on the bottom. Platelets and white blood cells spin out just above the red blood cell layer. Lighter particles (plasma without platelets or blood cells) make up the top layer in the test tube.
The platelet-rich portion of the plasma is then injected into the damaged area (e.g., tendon, joint). This treatment technique isn't entirely new -- just new to the realm of sports medicine. It's been used safely and effectively for 20 years in some parts of Europe for diabetic wound management, bone fractures that don't heal on their own, chronic tendon injuries that also don't heal, plantar fasciitis, and osteoarthritis.
Because platelets contain growth factors, the added number of platelets injected into the area help new blood vessels get started. With increased blood to an area, wounds heal faster and tendon/muscle recovery takes place in half the time. The introduction of growth factors in patients with cancer is a concern. Right now, until we know more about the effects of this treatment, anyone with an active tumor should not have this treatment. There's no proof that platelet-rich plasma can stimulate cancer growth. But it hasn't been ruled out either. Until more research is done, you would be advised to look for other ways to deal with your knee arthritis.
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