Immune System Boosters?

[Hope]

Hi, as you probably read from my post below, I need help in boosting my immune system so I can continue to take chemo more consistently. What are some of you doing to boost your immune system? Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks.

[Christine]

It use to be that a patient on chemo that had a low white coint took Neupogen, which worked slower than the new product called Alasta that keeps the cells more stable so to continue chemo.
You may have already heard about this.

[Sue]

I had very good luck with accupuncture (sp?). I went weekly for the whole 6 months. I was always able to keep wbc above 6000. By the end even other patients were asking what my secret was.

[Anonymous]

I think you mean Nuelasta (not sure on spelling) I was on that instead of Neupogen when I went through chemo last year- you only need one shot the day after your chemo instead of the round of shots you have to do with Neupogen. It worked very well.

[Lisa]

One thing that was recommended by my onc's office was to drink a bowl of beef broth. If you look hard you can find organic versions. By the way, I was lazy and didn't do this. I ended up taking Neulasta shots monthly on the same day as my chemo.

Love and light,

Lisa

[michele u]

My dr didn't want me to take too many things with chemo, due to the fact if you boost your system too much it might fight the chemo also. You need to let the chemo fight the cancer cells, and yes even your good cells too.

[Steph N]

There are a number of foods that can help boost your strength and immune system. Eat wild salmon for the good oils and cruciferous vegies for the vitamin K, cook lentils as they are high in iron (I like them with diced carrots and sweet onion), blanched almonds are good as is almond butter on toast in the morning. Soups made with a variety of organic veggies are also good. Just use your imagination and season with organic herbs that are plentiful in the markets now. Mushrooms, especially shiitake, are also good cancer fighters.
You need minerals and fresh foods are the best way to get them. At times I had trouble with what I could eat due to mouth sores, but omelets with good things, worked well during those times.
There is a good section on this site about Nutrition - find it at the Site Index.
Good luck and happy cooking.

[al from Canada]

Careful on the anti-oxidents one accepted theory suggests that they may actually protect the cancer cells from the chemo.
Al