some interesting thoughts on the immune system

pete43lost_at_sea
pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member

i got this today by email, i won't even say the source, i reproduce here below because its concise and pretty spot on. i have mentioned all these tips over the years, they are really becoming widely accepted now days in some circles. strangely not cancer medicine alas.

its a good read. let me know if this sort of news is welcome here if you want break from the natural health anti cancer stuff. i get those emails, i immediately think wow, that would be helpful for my csn friends. 

the link to the site and article in colour is on my blog, but i cut all that out so the commercial message in the information does not get in the way of the facts as i see it.

it serves as the basis for research , thats all . of course many here disagree with supplementation and diet, but for those who do, this is relevant. 

you can read and make wise decisions, i liked the two kinds of optimisim, that emu with his head in the sand keeps on coming up.

hugs,

pete

 

School's in session again...

 

That means lots of little bodies cooped up in close quarters, less time outside in the sun, and your children sharing lunches, drinks and snacks with their friends.

 

Not to mention, that you lose a degree of control over what they eat when you (the parent) aren't there to monitor things. As the old saying goes, "While the cat's away, the mice will play..." So they might be eating sugar and processed foods without your knowledge and consent. And sugar may keep your immune system from functioning at its best.

 

What's more, if your child is one who isn't efficient at getting their studying done early in the evening, it may encroach on their sleep time. You're probably aware that not getting enough rest also takes a toll on immune health.

 

How about these other common mistakes that can help keep the immune system from functioning optimally and which are especially common during the school year?

 

Too much stress. Your children may have more stress in their school settings than you realize. And when they're not happy, you know how that affects you...

Not enough exercise. Exercise is one of the BEST strategies to help maintain a healthy immune system, via the increased circulation and blood flow delivering nutrients farther and wider throughout your system.

Sanitation. Washing hands is a key to good immune health. But how do you know if your child does that when they're away from you?

Care for your digestive tract. Scientific research shows that 80% of your immune system resides inside your digestive tract. In my opinion, the best strategy you can use and encourage your children to use is to take a high-quality probiotic to support their digestive tract.

Many people I speak with fail to optimize their health in one or more of these ways. And I've already alluded to how difficult it is to really know what your children are doing in any of these areas when they're away at school.

 

But there is a compensatory action you can have them do every morning, while they are with you. Something that can help offset the childish things they do at school without thinking...

 

And it's a plus for you also.

 

Your Immune System Is Your Body's Bodyguard

 

Your immune system is a complicated, interesting and amazing system which helps keep you healthy and strong, protecting your body from environmental stressors.

 

However, no matter what you do (or how closely you follow the plan above), sometimes your immune system gets tested. That's why you also need a backup plan.

 

All great athletes know this. They train hard so their bodies stay healthy and they can perform at their best. But they still have physiotherapists and health professionals on call because they know sometimes life just throws a curve ball.

 

That's why they always have a back-up strategy in place. So...

 

What Can You Do To Support Your Immune System In

The Months Ahead?*

 

Listen, many "positive thinkers" might consider this approach negative. But I think it's just being prudent, realistic and sensible. After all, no matter how confident mountain climber Edmund Hillary was when he set off for Mount Everest, do you think he left without tools and backup supplies?

 

Of course not. And you shouldn't be heading into this winter without a tool to "back up" your immune system either because you need...

 

A Free Radical Busting Plan To Help Maintain a Healthy Immune System

 

Free radicals are unstable, destructive molecules that lack electrons. And while they form naturally as a result of normal metabolic processes like breathing, they can increase due to things like stress, poor diet and environmental stressors.

 

In a nutshell, free radicals have the ability to keep your immune system from functioning optimally, as you can see below...

 

 

 

Just like the knight above, a healthy

immune system stands ready.

 

 

 

Until when least expected, free radicals keep your immune system from functioning at top form.

 

So what can you do to promote your immune system and protect against environmental stressors? Well, your body already produces antioxidants to neutralize free radicals. But as we grow older, the levels of antioxidants drop significantly. It is estimated that by age 40 your antioxidant level is at 50%, and by the age of 60 to 70, it is down to around 5% to 10%. So you need to get your hands on a healthy supply of antioxidants to "mop up" these scavenger molecules as soon as they start to pose a threat.*

 

Please don't make the mistake of sticking your head in the sand like an emu and hoping everything will be okay. Remember, there's a huge difference between earned and justifiable optimism and dangerous optimism.

 

And while you can do everything in your power to give your body the immune support it needs over the winter months, just like leading athletes, you also need to make sure you have a backup plan in case life throws you a curve ball.

 

In your heart, you know there must be a solution: an effective way to help support your immune system when it gets tested.* But knowing what to take and who to buy it from (so you actually get what you pay for) can be an absolute nightmare.

Comments

  • renw
    renw Member Posts: 282 Member
    Something else to consider

    Something else to consider Pete, your immune system is at its peak during the summer months, and depressed during winter. That's part of the reason why colds and flu are more preveant in the winter.

    For this reason, I'll be timing my immunotherapies to coincide with the european summer as much as possible.

  • manwithnoname
    manwithnoname Member Posts: 402
    renw said:

    Something else to consider

    Something else to consider Pete, your immune system is at its peak during the summer months, and depressed during winter. That's part of the reason why colds and flu are more preveant in the winter.

    For this reason, I'll be timing my immunotherapies to coincide with the european summer as much as possible.

    What about

    If you live on the equator, is it a sun/light based theory or something else. Just curious.

  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    renw said:

    Something else to consider

    Something else to consider Pete, your immune system is at its peak during the summer months, and depressed during winter. That's part of the reason why colds and flu are more preveant in the winter.

    For this reason, I'll be timing my immunotherapies to coincide with the european summer as much as possible.

    thanks ren

    interesting but not my focus for the resons below.

    your blog and research exceptional, the chemo half life stuff brilliant. we are the most knowledgable colorectal community on the planet. i am so glad you have joined us, i wish you did not have to. the avastin half so key i suspect to my result.

    whatever my dear friend, but consider the tumour doubling rate, consider my result went through the middle of winter in europe. the component of the immune system dealing with colds and flues is not as important as the tumour eating components. 

    i am sure their is some good reason for the seasonal immune depression, it could be sunlight, it could lack of exercise. all these issues can be addressed with targetted lifestyle, ie gym, saunas, diet.

    hugs,

    pete

    ps its got to come down to vit d, just like the colorectal studies, still onc don't recommend vit d, most anyway. their are no trials to prove it.

    when the onc's have to start recommending supplements, well they will start have vit d. but thats the thin edge of the wedge, they will never be able to stop at just that. look at what lentz advises. i wonder if he suggests cimetidine and psk. tans has been highlighting these essential adjuvants for years here, even yesterday nesslehut himself said they were benefical for survival particularly around the surgical window.

     

  • Fucc
    Fucc Member Posts: 92 Member

    thanks ren

    interesting but not my focus for the resons below.

    your blog and research exceptional, the chemo half life stuff brilliant. we are the most knowledgable colorectal community on the planet. i am so glad you have joined us, i wish you did not have to. the avastin half so key i suspect to my result.

    whatever my dear friend, but consider the tumour doubling rate, consider my result went through the middle of winter in europe. the component of the immune system dealing with colds and flues is not as important as the tumour eating components. 

    i am sure their is some good reason for the seasonal immune depression, it could be sunlight, it could lack of exercise. all these issues can be addressed with targetted lifestyle, ie gym, saunas, diet.

    hugs,

    pete

    ps its got to come down to vit d, just like the colorectal studies, still onc don't recommend vit d, most anyway. their are no trials to prove it.

    when the onc's have to start recommending supplements, well they will start have vit d. but thats the thin edge of the wedge, they will never be able to stop at just that. look at what lentz advises. i wonder if he suggests cimetidine and psk. tans has been highlighting these essential adjuvants for years here, even yesterday nesslehut himself said they were benefical for survival particularly around the surgical window.

     

    Interesting thread. The one
    Interesting thread. The one supplement that was recommend by by surgeon was high dose of vitamin d. He recommmened 4000-5000iu, and did say that. I could go up to 10000, but to watch for side effects. He is young, aggressive and has given me continued support throughout this whole process. I must have been very low in vit d. I do think this is a factor. My natriopath tested my vit d, after I had been supplementing with 5000 iu per day, and my level was 80. Which is in other normal range, but you would think it would have been higher.

    Please keep any research about immune system coming. This is the focus of my plan of attack. I have two more rounds of chemo and need to get my body working better than ever to fight this. Right now I am trying to decipher and grasp the idea of a dc vaccine or other treatments for the immune system, including hypothermia. There is so much conflicting information. When I asked my oncologist about the vaccine he almost laughed and shrugged it off as being highly experimental and not for me. It's so disappointing. He is one of the most highly regarded oncologists in Canada, he actively researches and teaches, but seems so close minded. Perhaps it is the whole standard of care thing that makes them afraid to step beyond the basic recommendations. It would be nice to have a conversation with someone like him who has an open mind to alternatives.
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    Fucc said:

    Interesting thread. The one
    Interesting thread. The one supplement that was recommend by by surgeon was high dose of vitamin d. He recommmened 4000-5000iu, and did say that. I could go up to 10000, but to watch for side effects. He is young, aggressive and has given me continued support throughout this whole process. I must have been very low in vit d. I do think this is a factor. My natriopath tested my vit d, after I had been supplementing with 5000 iu per day, and my level was 80. Which is in other normal range, but you would think it would have been higher.

    Please keep any research about immune system coming. This is the focus of my plan of attack. I have two more rounds of chemo and need to get my body working better than ever to fight this. Right now I am trying to decipher and grasp the idea of a dc vaccine or other treatments for the immune system, including hypothermia. There is so much conflicting information. When I asked my oncologist about the vaccine he almost laughed and shrugged it off as being highly experimental and not for me. It's so disappointing. He is one of the most highly regarded oncologists in Canada, he actively researches and teaches, but seems so close minded. Perhaps it is the whole standard of care thing that makes them afraid to step beyond the basic recommendations. It would be nice to have a conversation with someone like him who has an open mind to alternatives.

    nice younfg surgeon advising vit d, thats great

    your surgeon did not advise psk or cimetidine, interesting alas. same for me. the benefit of hinesight.

    as for your onc, basically same as mine, i would say all our doctors are bound by the legal framewiork and the standard of care.

    i am the only one on this board i know of who has had a dc vaccine, its only available for patients in a few locations germany, china, japan and isreal.

    you seem to be heading in a similar path to my focus, just a word of warning, don't expect any support from your onci never got support, i got grudging acceptance.

    after 5 onc i got an opened minded one, but even he is bound by the legal framework.

    medical tourism has alot going for for where i am sitting, which is room 301, the hotel of the lion, duderstadtgermany. if you want immunotherapy, see my blog and email the clinics. thats how you start the process. if your interested in preserving immune function while on chemo, while on my blog search ahcc, read the pdf. i am on 6grams per day. 

    goodluck and pm me any questions. email is fine also if you want.

    hugs,

    Pete

     

  • Fucc
    Fucc Member Posts: 92 Member

    nice younfg surgeon advising vit d, thats great

    your surgeon did not advise psk or cimetidine, interesting alas. same for me. the benefit of hinesight.

    as for your onc, basically same as mine, i would say all our doctors are bound by the legal framewiork and the standard of care.

    i am the only one on this board i know of who has had a dc vaccine, its only available for patients in a few locations germany, china, japan and isreal.

    you seem to be heading in a similar path to my focus, just a word of warning, don't expect any support from your onci never got support, i got grudging acceptance.

    after 5 onc i got an opened minded one, but even he is bound by the legal framework.

    medical tourism has alot going for for where i am sitting, which is room 301, the hotel of the lion, duderstadtgermany. if you want immunotherapy, see my blog and email the clinics. thats how you start the process. if your interested in preserving immune function while on chemo, while on my blog search ahcc, read the pdf. i am on 6grams per day. 

    goodluck and pm me any questions. email is fine also if you want.

    hugs,

    Pete

     

    I asked my oncologist for

    I asked my oncologist for cimetidine. He said no. He also said he was involved in some research using itayers back and that it doesn't work. I ashome him for a prescription anyways and he said no. So no cimetidinefor me. It's not sold over the counter here in Canada.

    Ive used ahcc as recommended by my natriopathic oncologist. My research indicates that it has tremendous value for this staged stage III b or lower. There hasn't been too much sucess for more advanced cancer, but it is still worth a try to support the immune system. I saw your blog on pricing of this. Throne I have was 89 cdn. I can't recall the brand or strength right now, but I got it from my natriopath.

    In also did some research last night about the dc vaccine. It's frustrating that I would need to travel so far to get it, but am considering it. My biggest question is if it is useful and/ or available to me given that I am lucky to be Ned at this point. Do you know anything about this? I am also considering hypothermia. There is a clinic in Vancouver that does it. I may take a trip out west.

  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    Fucc said:

    I asked my oncologist for

    I asked my oncologist for cimetidine. He said no. He also said he was involved in some research using itayers back and that it doesn't work. I ashome him for a prescription anyways and he said no. So no cimetidinefor me. It's not sold over the counter here in Canada.

    Ive used ahcc as recommended by my natriopathic oncologist. My research indicates that it has tremendous value for this staged stage III b or lower. There hasn't been too much sucess for more advanced cancer, but it is still worth a try to support the immune system. I saw your blog on pricing of this. Throne I have was 89 cdn. I can't recall the brand or strength right now, but I got it from my natriopath.

    In also did some research last night about the dc vaccine. It's frustrating that I would need to travel so far to get it, but am considering it. My biggest question is if it is useful and/ or available to me given that I am lucky to be Ned at this point. Do you know anything about this? I am also considering hypothermia. There is a clinic in Vancouver that does it. I may take a trip out west.

    how predictable

    i got my cimetidine from my local doctor i printed the japanese psk and cimetidine study and he gave me 6 months worth on our national helthbasiclly for free.

    i would always take cimetidine with psk as per the trial guidelines, its your body, you can tell your doctor precisely what you want, if they don't listen, i would have  got another one. how to train your oncologist could be a cheeky title for a good book.

    seriously watch out for the serious side effects, i have mentioned these before

    1. erectile dysfunction its ok your a girl, but for any boys this is a big one.

    2. reduced stomach acid production leading to protein mal absorption and then ph being unbalanced through the gi tracked, leading to thrush and bad bugs, leading to payes patches not having good bacteria to facilitate growth of lympocytes. simple answers boost stomach acid via bentain hci and genitain herbs from iherb and follw meals with digestive enzymes . this should ensure good protein absorption, and essential amino acids, which are needed for the immune system.

    3. i am also taking iv zink when i can get it, as adequate zinc is a precusor for stomach acid. some pink sea salt also ensures adequate chloride ions for manufacturing the stomach acid. of course not being dehydrated, ensures your stomach linings are soft and spongy and can produce stomach acid. looking at the quality of your stools is a good guide if you are managing your stomach.

    i actually have typed all these points out mainly for me, so i remember how much work cimetidine is, i believe its worth it for a range of reasons i will elucidate if there is interest.

    i would have no hesitation on skipping adjuvanant chemo folfox and doing a vaccine dc straight away. excellent convinving proof from the breast cancer world where about all ladies post surgery were vaccinated were recurrence free 5 years post surgery, against the clinical standard where recurrence rates approached 60%.

    your homework is to find the study if your interested, i have not read the study, but clearly how it was explained to me. naturally the assumption is that the principle carries over to our colorectal world. i hope it does.

    last point re hyperthermia, of course do it in my opinion, many benefits, but its real value from my experience is as a component of vaccine or immune system therapy, ie when doing ozone or injecting ndv.

    hugs,

    pete

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    Fucc said:

    I asked my oncologist for

    I asked my oncologist for cimetidine. He said no. He also said he was involved in some research using itayers back and that it doesn't work. I ashome him for a prescription anyways and he said no. So no cimetidinefor me. It's not sold over the counter here in Canada.

    Ive used ahcc as recommended by my natriopathic oncologist. My research indicates that it has tremendous value for this staged stage III b or lower. There hasn't been too much sucess for more advanced cancer, but it is still worth a try to support the immune system. I saw your blog on pricing of this. Throne I have was 89 cdn. I can't recall the brand or strength right now, but I got it from my natriopath.

    In also did some research last night about the dc vaccine. It's frustrating that I would need to travel so far to get it, but am considering it. My biggest question is if it is useful and/ or available to me given that I am lucky to be Ned at this point. Do you know anything about this? I am also considering hypothermia. There is a clinic in Vancouver that does it. I may take a trip out west.

    Fucc...can you order the cimetidine online?

    Seems like it would be easy to get it that way since it's sold OTC here in the States.  I took cimetidine for a week before and a week after my last surgery.   Have no way to know if it helped me to reach NED, as I have been for over a year now, but it certainly didn't hurt.  Ann Alexandria

  • Fucc
    Fucc Member Posts: 92 Member

    Fucc...can you order the cimetidine online?

    Seems like it would be easy to get it that way since it's sold OTC here in the States.  I took cimetidine for a week before and a week after my last surgery.   Have no way to know if it helped me to reach NED, as I have been for over a year now, but it certainly didn't hurt.  Ann Alexandria

    I looked into getting it from

    I looked into getting it from the us, none of the online sites I found would ship it to Canada. I could have taken a drive crossborder to get it, but with everything going on and everything else I was taking I decided not to. 

  • vinaykumar
    vinaykumar Member Posts: 66 Member

    What about

    If you live on the equator, is it a sun/light based theory or something else. Just curious.

    intresting read on

    intresting read on transferrable cancer immunity 

     

    http://voices.yahoo.com/cure-cancer-lif ... tml?cat=70



    http://www.wakehealth.edu/Research/Tumo ... MD-PhD.htm

  • luvinlife2
    luvinlife2 Member Posts: 172 Member
    Fucc said:

    I looked into getting it from

    I looked into getting it from the us, none of the online sites I found would ship it to Canada. I could have taken a drive crossborder to get it, but with everything going on and everything else I was taking I decided not to. 

    Fucc

    Won't your naturopath Dr. prescribe it for you?  Although I could have gotten if from my reg onc it was my nat onc that prescribed it for me.  I'm doing the full body hyperthermia and local regional hyperthermia treatments.  The clinic is in Fort Langley, B.C.  FYI there is a machine recently imported from Germany that will soon be up and running in a naturopathic clinic in the Toronto area.  Should be about 1 month...they are starting to train the techs.  I can't tell you which clinic until it is ready for use but will send you a pm as soon as I hear anything.   It's the local regional machine (which is targeted hyperthermia.).   Have you looked into DCA?  I believe it's now available with a prescription but you need to have a naturopathic dr. who understands how to dose and all drug interactions.  Most regular oncs and gp's haven't researched it enough to know this information.  Good luck Smile