Supporting the Immune System

Hindsfeet

It is my opinion that our immune system is the best defense to disease and cancer. I begun this thread in hopes we can share ways to build up our immunity. Can you imagine fighting diseases without the below immune system help?



What our God given immune system does for our body:



Immune System Support



An optimally functioning immune system is essential for the body to address any disease including cancer—



The following is an overview of specialized immune cells and components:



Natural Killer (NK) cells are described as the “sentinel” cell in the immune system, because in healthy individuals they are the first cells to encounter cancer cells, invading bacteria and virally infected cells. They can take on and kill multiple disease cells simultaneously and also have a regulatory effect on the rest of the immune system.



Macrophages are the “Pac-men” of the immune system. They engulf disease cells, digest them and display fragments of the digested invader which become “antigens” that stimulate the appropriate B cell and T cell proliferation.



Lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell that is long lived and carries memory of past infections. As they mature they eventually turn into B and T cells.



T cells are a class of lymphocytes (also called T lymphocytes) derived from the thymus that control cell mediated immune reactions and the development of B cells. There are three fundamentally different types of T cells: helper, killer and suppressor. Each has many subdivisions.



B cells are a type of lymphocyte normally involved in the production of antibodies to combat infection. During infections, individual B cell clones multiply and are transformed into plasma cells, which produce large amounts of antibodies against particular antigen on a foreign microbe.



Interleukin-12 is released by macrophages in response to infection and begins the process of customizing immune system cells to suit the specific invader. It enhances the ability of Natural Killer (NK) cells to destroy microbes and cancer cells, induces interferon production and stimulates the production of activated T cells and NK cells.



Interleukin-2 is a chemical messenger, a substance that can improve the body’s response to disease. It stimulates the growth of certain disease-fighting blood cells in the immune system.



Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) is released by macrophages and induces fever. It kills cancer cells and caused the production of lymphokines.



Interferon refers to a family of glycoproteins derived from human cells which normally has a role in fighting viral infections by preventing multiplication in cells.

CrunchyPoodleMama

Barry, I'm running out the door but wanted to say this is a GREAT thread topic and I will read your post in depth and join the discussion when I get back! I agree that the immune system is absolutely key here!

flannelette

This topic interests me a great deal. In 1989 I had what was eventually diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue & Immune dysfunction syndrome. Now I believe many people call it Fibromyalgia - not sure about that. I was in a study by the Nightingale Research Foundation, on CFIDS. After many urine/blood tests I was found to have NO natural killer cells. At that time it didn't mean much to me, except I was very sick -  way sicker than I ever felt  through chemo & rads. I was told by the dr at the research centre that this was evidence of a massive battle at the cellular level having taken place in my body. All other workups normal.

Fast forward to 2008 and my bc cancer diagnosis. 19 years. I think possibly the time it might take for cancer cells to become a whopper tumor (4 inches). I often wonder....but it's speculation, how can I ever know?

meanwhile one of the things I do now to boost immunity is I make my own astragalus tincture and use it according to the US herbalist Susun Weed. That plus Nikken brand 14 Mushroom complex plus vit c seem to stop my colds. Weird combo, I know.

Thanks for creating this thread!

Arlene

flannelette

Oops almost forgot - the night before my path report I dreamed my mother (died in 1987, living 40 years past her radical mastectomy when I was 4, and my mentor for dealing with bc) and I  had brooms and were vigorously sweeping big yellow balls off a pavement that was sticky, pink, and running with fluid like water. When I woke up, I knew I was going to be all right. There is a field of medical research called psychoneuroimmunology, discoveries that many parts of the body, not just the brain, have neurotransmitters. Call me wacky, but I do believe my immune system was sending me a message...

Arlene.

Hindsfeet

The Positive Effects of Moderate Exercise in Aiding the Immune System. http://www.marathonandbeyond.com/choices/latta.html



It’s a commonly held belief that people who exercise regularly get sick less often than couch potatoes: in one survey, over three-quarters of 750 masters athletes (ranging in age from 40 to 81 years) said that they are less vulnerable to viral infections than their sedentary peers. Research backs them up. In a recent yearlong study of over 500 men and women, for example, those who were “moderately active” had a 20 percent reduction in risk for upper respiratory tract infections as compared with physically inactive adults. Women who walked briskly for 35 to 45 minutes, five days a week, for 12 to 15 weeks, were found to have colds half as often as inactive women. And, although immune function naturally declines with age, some studies have shown that highly fit elderly people have better preserved immune systems. Several positive changes occur in the immune system during exercise, and while the immediate effects are transitory, the boost they lend immune cells reduces the risk of infection over the long term.



Jeffrey Woods, associate professor of kinesiology and nutritional science at the University of Illinois, has shown that exercise can have potent stimulatory effects on macrophages, which he describes as “the special forces that come in first and set up the stage for the army.” Woods has also shown that moderate exercise can protect mice from death because of influenza (unpublished data). Even more intriguing is Woods’s recent research showing that exercise—prolonged, intense exercise, “like a mouse marathon,” said Woods—not only delays the growth of tumors but also speeds up the rate of their regression in mice.

Hindsfeet

reasons for boosting your immune system, by way of eating and drinking habits are:-



1. How fast you age is determined by your immune system.

2. Your immune system fights off the viruses, bacteria, etc, which try to attack you, from the common but irritating ones like the cold, flu and thrush to serious problems such as Legionaire's disease and Aids.

3. The immune system has the power to destroy cancerous cells, as they develop.

4. Every day your immune system clears the body's waste disposal system, ridding dead cells, toxic chemicals, dead bacteria, etc.

5. Radiation and chemical pollutant effects are minimised by the immune system when working effectively.

6. Allergies and auto-immune problems, like arthritis are caused by a poorly functioning immune system.

7. A struggling immune system predisposes you to being ill more often, for longer periods of time and for more days of your life.

8. With a strong immune system you are virtually invincible and should be able to lead a long, vigorous and healthy life.



http://www.foodalive.org/articles/immune.htm

mrsnjband

okay so how  can you boost your immune system?  I have non-specific bone marrow injury from raditation.  My iron levels are fine, b12, b6, folic acid all fine.  I just have low   RBC & White cell counts. So what can I do?  NU

calrec

Barry,

Cal here.....what about Hair Coloring and the immune system? It scares me to death to see my wife, who's trying to battle breast cancer, douse her hair/head with whatever poison to tint her hair!

She asked me to doub some excess off that was leaking down her neck...warning me to be careful handling the junk! Hope several ladies weigh in on this possibly overlooked attack on the immune system.

Hindsfeet

calrec...there are natural hair coloring. In my area there is a store, "New Seasons" that sells hair coloring that doesn't have toxic chemicals in it. In the last year or so I'm seeing a little gray so I've started using it.

There are a lot of women using hair coloring that do not get cancer. How she feels about herself right now is important. Feeling positive is very important to the immune system.

With all the toxic junk we're all exposed to it's amazing everyone doesn't have cancer. If our immune system is strong it destroys the free radicals in our body.

Hindsfeet

mrsnjband, I don't have much time to adequately answer your question right now. I am sure the women who visit here will have wonderful suggestions as well



For me the three most important immune supporters are



1. Keeping stress under control...not allowing life to get to you. Stay positive. Find something you really like to do...hobby.

2. Diet ... Feed your immune system well, and it will work for you. Healthy gut!

3. Exercise...Keep your body moving!

4. Sleep...your body repairs it self at night.


A lot more to be said on these general suggestions...share more later! Have a good day

Husband11

Take a look at Maitake D extract.  It is proven to elevate a number of markers of the immune system.  The effect of this is as yet unknown, but anecdotal reports are that it has benefit to cancer patients.  Hopefully research commences soon to see if it can help.

Hindsfeet

I would like to address each one of the suggestions I posted above more fully. First the stress connection to our immunity...Mostly my opinion based on the study and reading I've done.



THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND STRESS



There are a number of factors that suppress the immune system. I would consider chronic or acute stress to be one of the major players in the impairment of the immune system and in cancer.



I have a friend, who’s friend, was dx with bc about a year and a half ago. Because her tumor was so large they put her on chemo before surgery. She panic at the dx of cancer. After a month of chemo they did a mri and her tumor grew twice the size. Did the chemo make the tumor grow or the stress of being dx with cancer cause the growth? The last year and a half her whole life has been defined by cancer. She is now dying.



We all know ladies who are staged 4 who have lived for years and some whose cancer has gone into remission. Why do some survive and others pass so quickly?



I have a friend, who several years ago had brain cancer, and chemo. The doctor said she would survive because she was positive, and not stressed about the cancer. Did the fact she was easy going, and not stressful helped her through the cancer ordeal?




CONSIDER THAT...Chronic or acute stress depletes the adrenaline, which leads too much sugar in the body’s cells, resulting in the perfect environment for cancer cells to thrive in the body.



Stress is not the cause of cancer, but undeniably plays a major role in the disease.



Stress hormone norepinephrine and epinephine levels, stimulate tumor cells to produce three (3) compounds: MMP-2 and MMP-9 . Tumor cells make receptors for these stress hormones on their surface, to stimulate these three compounds. MMP-2 and MMP-9 breakdown the scaffolding of tumor cell walls making it easier for them to travel to other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis. VEGF causes blood vessels to grow in new tumor cells, so that they can grow and spread more rapidly. News of cancer at this stage, often becomes a further "inescapable shock" and the cycle begins again with secondary tumor sites forming in different parts or organs of the body.

Stress might promote cancer indirectly by weakening the immune system's anti-tumor defense or by encouraging new tumor-feeding blood vessels to form. But a new study published April 12 in The Journal of Clinical Investigation shows that stress hormones, such as adrenaline, can directly support tumor growth and spread.



So….what are practical ways to reduce the stress in our lives?



1. Forgiveness: Let go of emotional injuries. I heard once that when you don’t forgive that you are only hurting yourself. SO TRUE! It’s not worth it. Unforgiveness, bitterness and hate are all toxic to our bodies.

2. Accept that “Life Happens”. Bad things happen to everyone. Sometimes we just got to put one foot in front of the other and go.

3. Get Help. Find someone who is willing to be there for you or help you through a problem. Possibly someone from Church, counselor or family. Let people know your needs.

4. Simplify Your Life: Focus on one thing at a time. Usually, I try to have two or three goals a day. I focus on one of them at a time. Maybe one goal is to get through the medical appointments. Once that’s done, I focus on my second goal, which may be cleaning only one room or laundry. And then…if I have time for my third goal which is to usually work on my novel I feel better if I’ve done something productive each day. (I teach part time as well).

5. De-clutter. If our surroundings is put together, we are more likely will feel put together, and not burned with the thought of work to do. To do this you may need friends assistance to help you get rid of stuff that you no longer use or need. Too much stuff stresses you out.

6. Positive: Spend time with someone who is positive. DO NOT HANG OUT WITH SOMEONE WHO LIVES UNDER A RAIN CLOUD! Look for the good in the day, not the bad.

7. Sing... 30 minutes a day . It works!

8. Read... or watch something that has a happy ending.

9. Don’t spend a lot of your time talking about things that make you sad.

10. Prayer Works…turn it over to God, and trust that He will work everything out together for good. When first dx with cancer, I had no idea of what kind of cancer I had. They just said cancer. The verse came to me that all things work together to good to those who love God…and I said, I am going to look for the good in this and I was filled with peace throughout the whole experience. One good about my dx is it made me see how important it is to take care of myself, my body.





http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/emotional-causes-of-cancer-negative-emotions-in-the-body-can-cause-cancer-very-interesting-article-90

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=does-stress-feed-cancer

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/29/health/29canc.html

http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/09/22/chronic-stress-may-spur-progression-of-breast-cancer/18523.html



Stress hormone cortisol levels skyrocket and remain at high levels, directly suppressing the immune system, whose job it is to destroy cancer cells that exist in every human being. High stress levels generally means a person cannot sleep well, and cannot produce enough Melatonin during deep sleep. Melatonin is responsible for inhibiting cancer cell growth. This means cancer cells are now free to multiply. Adrenaline levels also skyrocket initially, but are then drained and depleted over time. This is especially bad news for the cancer personality.

luv_gardening

Hope is one of the major ingredients in the few studies into spontaneous remission.

My favourite book for hope is called Surviving Cancer - edited by Paul Kraus.  Each chapter is written by a different person who has been either in remission or NED for 5 years or more from terminal cancer.  Apart from one writer they all had stage 4 or one of those rarely beaten cancers like mesothelioma, lung, pancreas, brain etc.  The writers all identify themselves, where they lived or worked and other details.  All are fully verifiable. 

The 28 writers believed that meditation, diet, de-stressing, sorting out their emotional and relationship issues and belief that they could be cured all played a major role in their recovery.  Most took conventional treatments and some used none but they all followed the meditation, de-stress, diet, hope, belief, emotional route.

Amazingly some of them lapsed into their old habits or had major life events that triggered a return of their cancer and were again able to go into long term remission by returning to their healing routines.  To me this shows the process is repeatable and proves they were not just unaccountable and unprovable remissions.  If only these people could be studied to find out the effects of their protocol on their immune system.  Why are researcers studying sick people while ignoring such miraculous recoveries?  We need to know which elements are repeatable and if some sort of bio feedback could be used to make the process fool-proof.

This book is only available in Australia.

http://www.gawler.org/surviving-cancer/ 

If anyone knows of similar books that contain authentic recovery stories that are inspiring I'd love to know. There are plenty of inspiring women here who have gone more than 10 years NED after an aggressive diagnosis but it's the stage 4's that recover that I want to read about. They have truly beaten the odds.

Hindsfeet

Bad FOODS AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM



Foods that suppress or could comprised your immune system are...



1. Sugar: Sugar contains no nutrients! Sugar adversely affects the immune system, Sugar impairs the ability of white blood cells to sweep up and kill bacteria. It also robs the body of key nutrients such as zinc that is vital for the immune function.



When white blood cells are exposed to high levels of sugar in the bloodstream, they have a decreased ability to engulf bacteria and have weakened systemic resistance to all infections. What is a high level of sugar? The normal sugar level in the bloodstream is approximately one teaspoon. A single can of soda or a bowl of ice cream has 12 teaspoons of sugar. The digestive system is overtaxed trying to prevent all that sugar from entering the bloodstream all at once, and the pancreas is also working hard to produce enough insulin to process the sugar. This is a lot of stress on your body. Refined carbohydrates, such as most breads and baked goods act pretty much like sugar in the body. These refined foods also lack the beneficial nutrients and fiber that are present in whole grains, and actually cause a depletion of minerals in your body. Try finding foods that are more gently sweetened with fruit juice, rice syrup or barley malt.



2. Coffee and or Caffine: The acid in coffee eats away the villi of the small intestine, reducing their effectiveness in supporting nutrient assimilation. Regular consumption of caffeine deprives the body of this relaxed state.



3. For those who have allergies to Gluten, wheat, dairy or eggs will find these seemless harmless food toxic to their bodies and immune system.



Source: http://www.thebody.com/content/art31115.html

Hindsfeet

Are supplements comparable to what we get in food? Do we take the magic pill hoping it is the answer to our possible vitamin deficiency or immune deficiency?



... taking a Vitamin C pill really the same as eating an orange? Companies who manufacture supplements would like you to think so…as it is a billion dollar a year business. However, they are not the same. An orange is a food that contains Vitamin C, as well as thousands of other healthful compounds. The body uses all of these compounds together. A Vitamin C tablet is, well, Vitamin C in it’s pure form, plus some stuff to hold the pill together and maybe some flavouring. Not exactly what the body needs.



Best vitamin C value...eat a orange a day.



http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2010/11/03/whole-food-nutrition/

Hindsfeet

Supplements vs. whole food nutrition ....Vitamin D's



The problem with obsessing over micronutrients is that if they are supplemented, rather than obtained through foods, people may be missing out on important nutrition. For example, while we may know that a lack of Vitamin D can cause rickets, simply supplementing a diet with Vitamin D may not solve all of the problems. The way the body is meant to get Vitamin D is primarily through Sun exposure…using UV light to change cholesterol into Vitamin D. http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2010/11/03/whole-food-nutrition/



To note that after my second dx of bc, my naturalpathic had my vitamin D' level checked. My vitamin D was very low. I began taking vitamin D supplements. This past summer I did an experiment. I tried to spend at least 10 minutes every day outside. From May through September, I did not take my vitamin D tablets. September, I again had my vitamin D levels checked and they were finally normal, the highest yet! Since we have a lot of rain in the winter where I live, I again of course took the vitamin D supplements. Nothing better than the good ole sunshine

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that Vitamin D is crucial to activating our immune defences and that without sufficient intake of the vitamin, the killer cells of the immune system – T cells – will not be able to react to and fight off serious infections in the body.

For T cells to detect and kill foreign pathogens such as clumps of bacteria or viruses, the cells must first be ‘triggered’ into action and "transform" from inactive and harmless immune cells into killer cells that are primed to seek out and destroy all traces of invaders.

The researchers found that the T cells rely on vitamin D in order activate and they would remain dormant, ‘naïve’ to the possibility of threat if vitamin D is lacking in the blood. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7379094/Vitamin-D-triggers-and-arms-the-immune-system.html

Hindsfeet

Why Probiotics? How it Supports the Immune System and fights cancer...



To begin with the tap water we drink has chorine and fluoride in it. Choride and floride both kill bacteria. Not only does it kill the bad bacteria it kills the good bacteria. So, when we drink water from a local restuarant we're most likely drinking fluoride and chorine. In this case it is sorta like an antibiotic killing the good bacteria in our gut! For this reason alone we need to take a probiotic. Probiotics are necessary to kill the bad bacteria and yeast in the gut.



http://www.naturalnews.com/026265_probiotic_health_probiotics.html



(NaturalNews) A new study just published in the journal Postgraduate Medicine has good news about a way to help fight a potential flu pandemic, naturally. Researchers found that a specific strain of probiotics, which are beneficial microorganisms similar to the "friendly" bacteria found naturally in the body's digestive system, increases the body's immune response to the flu virus -- specifically, to influenza A. And the currently much hyped and much feared so-called swine flu, also known as H1N1, is a variant of influenza A.



But the new study could change that notion. It shows that taking probiotics regularly can boost the immune system in a specific way which helps the body give influenza A the boot. The probiotics strain, which has the scientific tongue-twister name of Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, PTA-6086, was found to cause significant increases in T-cell production of TNF-alpha, a key immune system activity marker, when health adults were exposed to influenza.



The study did not evaluate an immune response to the specific swine flu virus, H1N1, currently causing much worry. However, there's certainly reason to think that Bacillus coagulans could boost the body's natural defenses to fight a variety of flu viruses, including swine flu. "These results demonstrate the ability of GanedenBC30 to boost the immune system of healthy adults against viruses that cause some of the most common human illnesses," Dr. Baron said in a statement to the press. "The study helps support the long-suspected belief about the beneficial effects of GanedenBC30 on the immune system and adds to the emerging body of evidence that probiotics can benefit healthy people as well as those with specific health issues."

Several studies have shown that milk fermented by LAB may show beneficial effects for preventing colon cancer and breast cancer (1). Animals studies have shown that lactice acid bacteria can help protect against colon cancer in rodents, and human epidemiological studies have confirmed lower rates of colon cancer in populations who consume higher amounts of fermented dairy products as part of their staple diet.

The mechanism of action for these probiotics reducing cancer risk is not well understood, but several hypotheses exist, including:

1. Probiolotics may exert anti-carcinogenic effects by decreasing the activity pro-cancerous enzymes. For instance, lactic acid bacteria might exert anti-mutagenic effects by binding with (and inactivating) heterocyclic amines (carcinogenic substances formed in cooked meat).


2. Probiotics' lowering of food pH (via lactic acid secretion) reduces the chances of other organisms ("bad bacteria") growing and spoiling food. The corresponding decrease in gastrointestinal infections may also decrease risk of cellular aggravations and tumor development.

3. Probiotics may suppress the growth of bacteria that convert procarcinogens into carcinogens, thereby reducing the amount of carcinogens in the intestine. (e.g., lactic acid bacteria inhibit beta-glucuronidase, an enzyme which generates carcinogens in the digestive system.)


4. Probiotics may protect the detoxification function of the kidney and liver.


5. Probiotics may aid in adaptation to smoke irritation generated during cooking, heating and/or tobacco smoking (possibly by restoring natural killer cell activity which is lowered in smokers). Smoking is the most important lifestyle risk factor for bladder cancer, and epidiomiological evidence shows that consumption of probiotic foods reduces the risk of this specific

. Probiotics stimulate mucosal INF-gamma (a cytokine) secretion to stimulate immune protection and enhance apoptosis, reducing cancer risk. Evidence suggests that probiotics may regulate this cytokine secretion to ensure optimal protection with minimal damage to health cells (2).

* 1
* 2http://www.helium.com/items/1355213-how-to-fight-cancer-with-bacteria

Hindsfeet

Cancer killing chemicals



A final twist came in research covered in Cancer Watch in Autumn 2009, where researchers have shown that beneficial bacteria in the gut can actually cause the release of a cancer cell killing chemical from foodstuffs. That chemical is Sodium Butyrate. You could replicate it´s effects by taking ´Biotin´. But why bother. Beneficial bacteria will also help release biotin from the whole grains you eat.



http://www.canceractive.com/cancer-active-page-link.aspx?n=1413

Fearless_One

I just want to say I agree that it's all about immunity.   Sure, some things can set the "terrain", IMO (such as birth control pills, etc), but those with the strongest immune system can keep that terrain from flourishing.   I am not a medical professional, but it is my opinion that those with the strongest immune system won't get cancer.

*my personal opinion only and not medical advice*

Hindsfeet

Diagnosis: 11/27/2008, DCIS, Stage 0, Grade 3, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+

[Edit] [Delete]

althea

barry, I've seen this piece attributed to Johns Hopkins before, but my recollection is that they deny authoring it. 

As for the cancer cells, I see a lot of authors assert that everyone has cancer cells at any given time.  As for the reference to 6-10 times per lifetime, I know I've read pieces that say people have actual cancers 6-10 times in their lifetimes.   I know some of this information comes from autopsy information.  There's a study from Sweden where a number of women have been autopsied and early stage bc is found frequently.  Same goes for autopsies from people who died from a fatal accidents.  ...but that only accounts for one instance per person. 

I've never seen anything that could possibly account for someone knowing for a fact that people in general have cancers that come and subsequently go spontaneously.  Still, the concept intrigues me.  I have a purely conjectural theory that allopathic medicine takes credit for eradicating cancers that our own bodily functions would've gotten rid of anyway.  So much of what is discovered today is early stage cancer, which has a very high rate of survival.  I'd love to be around to see the day that it's commonplace knowledge that today's cancer surivors are surviving in spite of, not because of, chemo and radiation and pharmacueticals.  It's the metastatic cancer death rate that hasn't budged an inch in the right direction in the many decades since Nixon declared 'war on cancer'.  The early detection of early stage bc is the main thing that puffs up bc survival stats.  

barry, if you come across something that speaks to this this mysterious claim that people have 6-10 cancers throughout a lifetime, I'd love to see more information about it.  I can't recall where I've read it before, and I know I've seen it more than once, but never with any that convinced me it was anything more than speculation.  

Hindsfeet

althea, our immune system does have killer cells that are always eradicating cancer cells. In essence, the body has it's own form of chemo or killer cells... "the immune system." Our immune natural killer cells only kill the mutants or invaders (except for autoimmune disease) . So many medicines today suppress the immune system. I don't know why when someone is dx with cancer the doctors don't first try to rid the disease by boosting the immune system...And then, if that doesn't work, try whatever. The body is smart and if we give it what it needs it can do the job.



I have to find it, where I read of cancers that spontaneously disappeared.In my opinion it happens because our immune system is strong, and working rightly.

Husband11

This is a great subject.  No offence intended, but here is a link to Johns Hopkins medical debunking the email that was falsely attributed to them:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel_cancer_center/news_events/featured/cancer_update_email_it_is_a_hoax.html

They are not keen on the weak immune system theory.  Here is what they have to say.  Still, I can't help but wonder if it is not so black and white.

Email hoax contention #3: A Strong Immune System Destroys Cancer

When it comes to cancer and the immune system, it is not a matter of strong or weak as the fictional report contends, but rather an issue of recognition.  "The immune system simply does not recognize cancer. In its complexity, the cancer cell has learned to disguise itself to the immune system as a normal, healthy cell.  Cells infected with viruses or bacteria send out danger signals setting the immune system in action.  But cancer cells do not, explains Elizabeth Jaffee, co-director of cancer immunology and leading expert on cancer and the immune system."   By deciphering the methods cancer cells use to make them invisible to the immune system, Jaffee and team have developed cancer vaccines that have successfully triggered immune reactions against prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia, and multiple myeloma.

Hindsfeet

Thanks Timothy...if it wasn't put out by John Hopkins, I will gladly delete what I posted. Thanks

Hindsfeet

Interesting article...maybe science will come up with something to help our immune system to fight cancer.



Immune-Boosting Drugs Could Enhance Cancer Treatment http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091209194439.htm



ScienceDaily (Dec. 14, 2009) — Stimulating the body's own immune system to fight cancer offers new treatment opportunities for cancer patients, and scientists have made the first step towards finding existing drugs that could help.



In findings recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, a study by scientists at St George's, University of London shows that two existing cancer drugs have the ability to stimulate the body's immune cells (white blood cells) into attacking invading cancer cells. This could improve patient survival and recovery by expanding treatment options and lessening the side effects that are often caused by current cancer treatment. But the researchers warn that there is much more research to be done before patients will benefit.



"The reason the body's own immune system doesn't kill cancerous cells is because they camouflage themselves as healthy cells. This means our white blood cells aren't able to recognise the cancerous cells as being a problem. As a result, cancer is able to continue to spread, undetected by the immune system," explains lead researcher Dr Wai Liu.

gentianviolet

Ever since I was diagnosed in August 2009 I have wondered if my immune system, or lack of, played a role in my cancer.  In April 2009 I went to the hospital on a Friday night with stomach pains.  It was just before a weekend and the few docs that were there insisted that it wasn't appendicitis.  They fed me pain meds and didn't operate until Monday evening......by that time my appendix had burst.  I spent 9 days in the hospital and when released I found I had shingles.  At least the shingles made the incision from the exploratory surgery seem insignificant.  By August I found the lump.  I have often wondered if I had DCIS that went invasive when my immune system must have been at rock bottom the several months after the surgery.  Anyone think this is possible?

Hindsfeet

silversmith, I can relate. Stress suppresses the immune system! Your body went through a lot of stress with the surgeries and life threatening situation.

By nature, I'm a pretty easy going and positive person. I try not to let things get to me. However, five years before my dx, we went through a very stressful move. The house we moved from had mould. Everyone was sick so I had to clean the house, pack and move it without much help. I got sick toward the end of the move, but pretty much had no choice but to get it done. My job at that time was very stressful.



Right after my first dx, I again went through something very hard.



I've heard of a lot of similar stories. They say cancer probably was there five years before it was found.



There is mounting evidence that cortisone caused by acute or chronic stress puts at risk for cancer. Stress can cause our body to be too acidity which is the environment needed for cancer growth.

gentianviolet

Barry, although I, too, am a relatively easy going person, I did use HRT after menopause for about 11 years.  I can easily believe that DCIS could have started then.  So the theory that the DCIS after growing for years (I was told that I had cancer growing for 10 to 12 years, perhaps longer) rapidly went invasive due to a negative immune system (after the burst appendix) does not seem far fetched to me.  When I asked my breast surgeon if this theory were possible, her answer was, "Yes, it is possible, but you will never know for sure."  Of course nothing is for sure with this disease, however theories abound.  I guess it is up to each of us to decide what suits us best in order to feel we have a bit of some control over recurrence, however superficial that might be.

Hindsfeet

silversmith, I heard that dcis usually begins about 5 yrs before dx...correct me if I'm wrong. You HRT was long there before the five years it could had begun.

Toxic emotions, and chronic stress is a catalysis in setting up the right environment for cancer to grow. When our bodies go through a surgery, like you did, it effects the immune system.


But, I firmly believe is our immune system is strong, our immune system has the ability to kill cancers cells...this is what I'm banking on.

Hindsfeet

Dr. Arthur C. Guyton's Book, Textbook of Medical Physiology is one of the most widely studied books in medical history. It is required reading for almost all first-year medical students. In THAT
a/biopsy.html ...



Book, Dr. Guyton describes how the various different cells of the immune system are among the most rapidly multiplying of all cells.



According to Dr. Guyton, some of the immune system cells live only a few hours -- meaning that the creation and cell division within the immune system is more rapid than virtually any other type of cell:



The life of the granulocytes once released from the bone marrow is normally 4 to 8 hours circulating in the blood and another 4 to 5 days in the tissues. In times of serious tissue infection, this total life span is often shortened to only a few hours because the granulocytes then proceed rapidly to the infected area, perform their function, and in the process are themselves destroyed. [Page 436]

Hindsfeet

The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease."

- Thomas Edison