There's new doubt surrounding a controversial treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS).
The Liberation Treatment didn't fare very well in recent research, but there's plenty of ongoing research, and patients say they can't wait for results.
Ginger MacQueen underwent the Liberation Treatment March 30 in Poland. Blocked veins in her neck were reopened.
Now two new European studies have cast doubt on the theory that blockages are related to MS.
MacQueen says the recent studies didn't follow the right protocol and that the treatment worked for her.
"It changed my life. Before the treatment I thought I was on death row," said MacQueen.
The MS Society says the two small studies only underline the need for further research.
"If anything, it is prompting that much more research needs to be done quickly," said George Jacob with the MS Society.
The treatment is very similar to angioplasty used for heart patients in Canada, but it's not approved as a treatment for MS patients.
The federal and provincial governments are under pressure from many MS patients to provide and pay for the treatment. Alberta's health minister has formed a working group to review all services available to MS patients. The committee could also suggest Alberta government fund research. Saskatchewan has done just that, pledging to pay for clinical trials.
But patients like MacQueen don't want to wait for research.
"We're looking at least a decade, which is very unfortunate because we're dying," said MacQueen.
MacQueen paid thousands of dollars for her own treatment and travelled overseas to get it.
The experimental treatment is expected to be up for discussion at the premiers' meeting in Winnipeg this week.
