newbie from the U.S.

Hi, i'm from the states, have been a LCT shareholder for about 2 years and was diagnosed with pd about 14years ago. I was scheduled for DBS in november this year but cancelled because trump won and I no longer could be certain I could afford private insurance if obamacare was repealed in 2017 or 2018. trump won and he's doing everything he can to get rid of obamacare subsidies. I was told my full retail price for the 2 operations needed for a DBS was over $125,000. Batteries last 2-5years and that procedure was around $25,000. I don't know what programming costs are but I assume thousands. Not to be too cynical but DBS's are imho a huge money maker with the batteries needing changing and the avg 2x/year programming needed.

I would assume LCT's procedure would be much safer than a dbs since only 1 operation, no hardware that has to be inserted in your brain and chest, no wires inserted down your neck into your chest and no expensive operation ever needed to go in and replace broken wires,replace bateries, I assume much simpler operation than dbs.

I just went to our state's annual pd convention where 3 local pd researchers talked about their current research. I asked each one if they had heard of LCT and none had and none seemed to want to know more. Admittedly these were not university researchers and just ran trials but my sense is among pd'ers, investors, doctors in the U.S., LCT is still very unknown. Good phase2 results will imho come as a complete and wonderful surprise to the pd community here and I will wonder what medtronics might do if pd'ers start delaying their dbs operations after hearing about LCT's procedure. That might be why LCT is keeping quiet, not wanting those waiting for DBS's to delay until after the november results come in.

Anyway, when I was diagnosed 14 years ago I was told a cure in 5 years. Well there was a “cure” for a few patients receiving aborted fetus brain cells but that proved to be unreliable and had some bad results so that process went on hold, research has restarted in europe but is years off and in the U.S. Might never be approved. Crossing my fingers that phase2b results are good and that I might get the procedure. One other reason I cancelled the DBS was I didn't have enough support for the many trips I would need to the neuro for programming and if anything went wrong, like a serious infection. That factor alone makes a number of people forego dbs when they live far away. Wouldn't have that problem with LCT.

The one question I wonder about that will the govt's approve LCT for less advanced pd'ers eventually? What is the value to society to allow someone in their 50's to work more years, need far less meds.. jumping the gun here of course, the fat lady hasn't sung yet.