How to boost white blood cell and NK cell count?

Experimentally, maitake D extract has increased levels of NK cell activity.

I'm not sure its been shown to increase white blood cell count.  But they have demonstrated that it increases various markers of the immune system.  Memorial Sloan Kettering did work with breast cancer patients to determine experimental dosages for use in further trials.  At this point they say the effect is "of unknown clinical significance".  Hopefully it is of therapeutic value.  Even better if its of great therapeutic value.

Just wanted to add that you might want to try Melatonin for the sleep issue.  It also has some benefit for bc prevention. 

I just pulled up this link for you and see that it also mentions low platelets:

http://breastcancer.about.com/od/generalsideeffects/p/melatonin.htm

Deanna

Molasses has many minerals, including iron to boost red blood counts... don't know if that helps.

Molasses and probiotics.  Molasses for the minerals and probiotics because the GI tract is a huge part of the immune system.

Julia, The idea of coco and molasses I will try.Other than ginger bread cookies I have no idea how to use the stuff. Any other ideas on how to add it to my diet I would appreciate.

After I posted that, I went and made some (hot cocoa)... I sweetened it with molasses and a few drops of stevia... SO GOOD! It's a cold night so it was the perfect thing to end my evening with. Raw cacao has magnesium so that's another good cancer-fighting nutrient. And this full-of-nutrients version tastes a million times better than the packet of Swiss Miss chemicals I used to drink!

Kira, I've had depression issues too (a 7-year-long bout in my 20's, and several years in my 30's). I tried all the anti-depressants and one did work for me for a while, but ultimately two dietary things helped me: iodine and eating pasture-raised eggs. I know I was iodine-deficient and I also believe I was depleted of essential fatty acids. Exercise has also been a BIG part of my depression recovery, as well as getting sunshine exposure every day and not sitting in front of an LCD screen for too long. Ironically, I was massively depressed before my breast cancer diagnosis... but after my dx, I cleaned up my diet and lifestyle, and lo and behold, my depression cleared up! Totally wasn't expecting that at all. If anything, I should have been MORE depressed. But eating whole foods, pastured eggs, exercising, etc. really does help with depression (for me, FAR more than anti-depressants ever did).

Green, it's worth looking into black-out curtains and/or shades if any moonlight is able to stream in. I had insomnia my entire life. (When I was three, I remember assuming it took everyone two hours to fall asleep every night -- it was such a shock to find out most people fall asleep easily.) I thought my bedroom was pretty dark, but one night I went around with black electrical tape and put little pieces of it over every tiny little light on the stereo, clock radio, etc.

Amazingly, it made an IMMEDIATE difference. I slept so well and so deeply that first night, and have slept so much better ever since. BTW, sleeping in complete darkness also helps infertile women get their hormones back into balance. And did you know blind women have a significantly lower incidence of breast cancer?? It's crazy how that one factor can make such a difference in our health!

It's funny, I'm the total opposite...I simply have to fall asleep gazing at the stars, and having a little moonlight glow in my bedroom. We all sleep like babies with the windows open almost all year round....and the breeze seems to lull us to sleep. I couldn't ever imagine sleeping in total darkness, without the fresh air rejuvenating my lungs throughout the night and keeping the air in my home crisp.....it's like a comforting blanket.

I remember when I was a little girl visiting my nana in Greece....she lived on a top floor apartment in Athens, and in the summer months she had some beds out on the balcony overlooking the Acropolis - absolutely breathtaking. We would sleep out there...and she emphasized the importance of sleeping under the stars, when one could...or by an open window, as her family had done for centuries. I love it...it's part of my upbringing.

We're all different...I guess.

Victoria

Stars emit a range of wavelengths and colours.....they're like glistening diamonds.

I don't know of anyone that sleeps with blaring lights on. Just that it's restful to sleep with a little breeze and starlight/moonlight throughout the night. For me personally, closed windows and complete darkness feels stuffy, and unhealthy. Also you don't need an alarm clock because you will wake up with the birds....then you can close the drapery, if you wish to sleep in.

I walk 5k in the evenings along the beach, as the sun is going down and the moon is coming up. I'm pretty tired by the end of the day. Then as the stars come out to add some bling to the sky....I'm already yawning.....its hypnotic, and mesmerising to watch.  Day and night.... I don't want to miss a thing.

*yawn stretch*

Victoria

I have been having accupuncture treatments once a week to boost my wbc.  I have gotten through 3 of 6 treatments of TCH without needing the shots to boost counts.  My treatment is in 3 week cycles and counts do dip in the middle but have always come back up well within normal range.

Lovely about sleeping in the starlight and moonlight - I recently pushed my bed against my big windows which look out to almost total natural dark (exept i can see a few Xmas lights in the distance) and have never felt happier about my sleeping arrangement. I'm lucky - live in the country.

BUT - back to the immune boosting ideas. I have a book called The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Breast Cancer: a practical manual for understanding, prevention and cure. Author Sat Dharam Kaur, Naturopathic Doctor. ISBN paperback 0-7788-0080-6. See if you can get this from the library, maybe on interloan. I borrowed it from the Nurse Navigators' display of reputable books on breast cancer, at my hospital, when I was first diagnosed. It's a Canadian book. Whole chapter on this topic, including rebounding, lymphatic dry brushing, herbs Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic. In fact, a hugely useful book, bought my own right away.

I use  purchased mushroom extracts (Nikkon - 14 kinds) but do make my own astragalus tincture - as per the American herbalist Susun Weed, whose books you might already know. She also has a book specifically on breast cancer, called Breast Cancer - Breast Health. Making the tincture's fun, easy & cheap! You buy the dried astragalus root from a reputable possibly even local organic herbalist, and the rest is vodka  - don't worry, you end up consuming the teeniest amount of alcohol!

I once took part in a scientific study, 20 yrs or so ago, when i had a mysterious illness (then) called Chronic Fatigue and Immune dysfunction syndrome - now often called fibromyalgai, i believe. All tests blood & urine were normal except I had NO - ie zero - natural killer cells. So no patrols at all, scouting about. The dr. told me it was an indication a massive viral battle had gone on inside - and I felt like a huge battle had gone on, for years.  I often wonder aboout that, in connection to my 4 inch tumor......hm... I guess will never know.

P.S. I have added zinc to my vitamin regimen, based on my nutritionist's advice. I think it has helped boost my immunity greatly. I know that I won't be able to take higher doses for the long term, but in the short term, I've been taking 35mg daily. I suffered IBS-D for 5 years, so making up for lost nutrients and time....

My integrative physician that I saw during chemo had me take whey protein during chemo and rads to help build WBC. Not sure if that is the same thing. I never needed the neupogen/neulasta shots! I mixed it with some applesauce and ate it every morning. Not too bad.

I did find that  my sleep gradually improved 6 mo or so into tamox. I stopped waking during the night, or if I did, i would just go to the bathroom and then go right back to sleep. It might take your body a little while to get used to it. 

And finally re melatonin, which my natura-doc wanted me to take as well (for BC prevention) - I take 6mg and go right to sleep and don't feel any different during the day. BUT one time the store was out of the regular kind and I bought time-release. HUGE difference - I had a terrible time getting up in the morning! Went back on the regular kind and no problem. So that might be worth considering.

Amy

you have to brush your teeth..

for molasses, i just drink it straight.  a big tbsp every early afternoon. ... sometime i stir it into hot milk or water, both delicious.  i just pretend it is whiskey.