Building Up The Immune System
My husband, Bob has just come back from his doctor’s appointment with Dr. Miles Hassell, Internist and Director of Alternative Medicine at Providence St. Vincent here in Portland, OR. Bob decided against a plan of treating his melanoma with very caustic chemicals. He instead has chosen this particular doctor because of his particular background with alternative medicine in treating cancer in a more natural way. Bob’s doctor explained the idea of a more organic diet and cooking style and its benefits in helping build up Bob’s immune system. This would help Bob fight the melanoma in a more natural way through his diet and bringing the best ingredients nature had to offer and best suited in building up his immune system and giving it the strongest chance in fighting the cancer that has threatened his life.
“Good Food Great Medicine”. Bob set the book down in front of me and on its cover it read… “An evidenced-based guide to using the Mediterranean diet and your kitchen in the pursuit of optimal health. A homemade cookbook, a homemade Cookbook Recipes and ruminations from a medical practice.” Our new homework and new way of life sitting before me on my dining room table. I'm not even much of a cook, I don't like to cook if I am honest, but we are in this together for better or worst, in sickness and in health. Reading food labels is a must, no processed foods, no enriched flour, no pop, no sugar, no corn fructose syrup additives, limited red meat, etc.
Adding to our diets are Vitamin C, D3 and Cod Liver Oil.
My husband is stage 3c, his tumor was almost 3 inches in length located near in his upper leg near his groin and surgically removed last July. The lymph nodes above and below were taken (18 in all) and were tested negative. Bob's primary was never found and so believes his immune system destroyed it. BUT so his doctor says... that doesn't mean a few cells COULD have escaped while the tumor was being developed or in the removal of it. Well time will tell, huh? And eat better, try to walk more, and think positive. And we wait for the next test in December.
I would like to hear from anyone who has taken this path, the alternative way, the no chemical treatment. We are reading lots of books but this seems to be an important start.
Comments
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Natural way
Deb,
Sorry to hear cancer loves sugar ...so do I! Actually I had heard this before, there's a posting on another site, I know you are on it to, "Stage 4 and NED 5 years" his story is very interesting....read it. Obviously nothing scientific there but it makes you think.
Good luck!
Mary0 -
Cancer Loves Sugarwashoegal said:Natural way
Deb,
Sorry to hear cancer loves sugar ...so do I! Actually I had heard this before, there's a posting on another site, I know you are on it to, "Stage 4 and NED 5 years" his story is very interesting....read it. Obviously nothing scientific there but it makes you think.
Good luck!
Mary
Thanks for the lead on "Stage 4 and NED 5 years"... I did reply by the way. I don't see many people post about their nutrition on the discussion board, interesting...
On a personal note, when Bob went through his surgery and learned that there "could" have been "some" cancer cells escaping from the sight only to set up house keeping somewhere else in his body and that "time" would be the only factor in finding them again because of "size". The cancer cells would then have to be big enough for any scan to find... frightening if you ask me.
Waiting time bomb.
If building up the immune system gives Bob's body a fighting chance at fight back then why not help it in any way we can without destroying it? That's all I'm saying...
His follow-up tests are in December... let's hope I'm not singing a different tune after that?
Deb,
lovingwife, to Bob, stage 3c0 -
immune systemlovingwifedeb said:Cancer Loves Sugar
Thanks for the lead on "Stage 4 and NED 5 years"... I did reply by the way. I don't see many people post about their nutrition on the discussion board, interesting...
On a personal note, when Bob went through his surgery and learned that there "could" have been "some" cancer cells escaping from the sight only to set up house keeping somewhere else in his body and that "time" would be the only factor in finding them again because of "size". The cancer cells would then have to be big enough for any scan to find... frightening if you ask me.
Waiting time bomb.
If building up the immune system gives Bob's body a fighting chance at fight back then why not help it in any way we can without destroying it? That's all I'm saying...
His follow-up tests are in December... let's hope I'm not singing a different tune after that?
Deb,
lovingwife, to Bob, stage 3c
Hi LovingWife,
After having melanoma insitu exicised in March 2010 in Hawaii... moving back to the mainland and establishing with a new internist, who was an oncologist for 17 yrs quiting because he was tired of making ppl sick and having their hair fall out. He was the 4th dr I'd seen in 3 months regarding my skin cancers, 3 in Hawaii said nothing to me about immune systems. The new dr expressed the reasons why now, why was melanoma and bcc appearing now? What's going on with my immune system? He said check out boosting your immune system and we'll still keep watch on everything else, including dermatolgy apt every 3 months, btw at OHSU, etc.
Well 6 months later, I've lost 45 pounds (have maybe 50 more to go), walk 3-4 miles a day, haven't had a commerically processed hamburger in all these month. I see my new dr for the first time since he planted the seed to check out boosting my immune system. I'm hoping other numbers are good, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. I've never eaten so well in my life and this for me is a life changing process.
I can't wait til Monday, I hope he is as pleased with my changes as I am.
And also I wish my husband had been as supportive as you are with your husband, if he had been we might not be filing for divorce. But with little or no consideration when it came to me having cancer I had to say: see ya later dude.
Have a great day.
Carlene0 -
Hoping For The Best...WaianaeGal said:immune system
Hi LovingWife,
After having melanoma insitu exicised in March 2010 in Hawaii... moving back to the mainland and establishing with a new internist, who was an oncologist for 17 yrs quiting because he was tired of making ppl sick and having their hair fall out. He was the 4th dr I'd seen in 3 months regarding my skin cancers, 3 in Hawaii said nothing to me about immune systems. The new dr expressed the reasons why now, why was melanoma and bcc appearing now? What's going on with my immune system? He said check out boosting your immune system and we'll still keep watch on everything else, including dermatolgy apt every 3 months, btw at OHSU, etc.
Well 6 months later, I've lost 45 pounds (have maybe 50 more to go), walk 3-4 miles a day, haven't had a commerically processed hamburger in all these month. I see my new dr for the first time since he planted the seed to check out boosting my immune system. I'm hoping other numbers are good, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. I've never eaten so well in my life and this for me is a life changing process.
I can't wait til Monday, I hope he is as pleased with my changes as I am.
And also I wish my husband had been as supportive as you are with your husband, if he had been we might not be filing for divorce. But with little or no consideration when it came to me having cancer I had to say: see ya later dude.
Have a great day.
Carlene
Carlene,
Please let me know how you are doing? How did your tests go? Congratulations on the weight loss, it sounds like it was one of the benefits of eating healthier.
My husband gets retested in December and I know am just as anxious about that appointment as I am sure he is. Testing, waiting for results, it's all part of the game isn't it? With Christmas coming we are both trying to keep up our momentum going and our good cheer hoping we are doing the "right thing". Everything we have read so far says the immune system is the key to good health. I can't believe eating healthier isn't on everyone's minds but by the look of all discussions boards it is not. It is scary if you think about it. Sure... you can take out the tumors or reduce their size, by whatever means is out there but what then? Do you really think the doctors could get ALL the cancer cells? Not me... not from what I've read. So my husband and I work very hard at making our diets important because we can control that in our lives. Building up the immune system by eating better/healthier could very well make the difference and it certainly can't hurt. Better informed... better armed I say.
Medicine has a place in controlling this disease I'm not saying it doesn't, but don't let the system railroad you when there are other options to treat or help get you healthy. Always find the physician who believes in you and wants to heal you with any and all the resources YOU believe in. Nothing else makes sense.0 -
Hopelovingwifedeb said:Hoping For The Best...
Carlene,
Please let me know how you are doing? How did your tests go? Congratulations on the weight loss, it sounds like it was one of the benefits of eating healthier.
My husband gets retested in December and I know am just as anxious about that appointment as I am sure he is. Testing, waiting for results, it's all part of the game isn't it? With Christmas coming we are both trying to keep up our momentum going and our good cheer hoping we are doing the "right thing". Everything we have read so far says the immune system is the key to good health. I can't believe eating healthier isn't on everyone's minds but by the look of all discussions boards it is not. It is scary if you think about it. Sure... you can take out the tumors or reduce their size, by whatever means is out there but what then? Do you really think the doctors could get ALL the cancer cells? Not me... not from what I've read. So my husband and I work very hard at making our diets important because we can control that in our lives. Building up the immune system by eating better/healthier could very well make the difference and it certainly can't hurt. Better informed... better armed I say.
Medicine has a place in controlling this disease I'm not saying it doesn't, but don't let the system railroad you when there are other options to treat or help get you healthy. Always find the physician who believes in you and wants to heal you with any and all the resources YOU believe in. Nothing else makes sense.
Hi Deb,
Sure hope your husbands recent tests have good results. And that You and Yours had a wonderful Christmas.
My lab work in Nov was excellent with the exception of potasium being just shy of acceptable, so I'm eating bananas more often. It's fixable. Everything is going as before.
I've joined a local gym for strength training and continue to walk daily. Total weight loss since April is 60 pounds with 50 to go to get into a healthy BMI range. I continue to eat organic and natural as much as possible. I'd developed an intolerance to wheat products so that has eliminated breads, which has been a bit difficult, getting fiber into my diet means changing even more so... it also eliminated cakes, cookies etc... even though I'd not had those googies in months...
Well I wish you and your family a Happy New Year... and that life is good.
Carlene0 -
Immune SystemWaianaeGal said:Hope
Hi Deb,
Sure hope your husbands recent tests have good results. And that You and Yours had a wonderful Christmas.
My lab work in Nov was excellent with the exception of potasium being just shy of acceptable, so I'm eating bananas more often. It's fixable. Everything is going as before.
I've joined a local gym for strength training and continue to walk daily. Total weight loss since April is 60 pounds with 50 to go to get into a healthy BMI range. I continue to eat organic and natural as much as possible. I'd developed an intolerance to wheat products so that has eliminated breads, which has been a bit difficult, getting fiber into my diet means changing even more so... it also eliminated cakes, cookies etc... even though I'd not had those googies in months...
Well I wish you and your family a Happy New Year... and that life is good.
Carlene
I too believe our immune system has a lot to do with this. I had my thyroid removed in 2003 due to thyroid cancer. Prior to that I rarely had a cold or was sick (flu). Not long after having it removed I caught colds much easier. In one year I caught at least 4 severe colds vs maybe one in a year prior. I'm definitely going to look into the cancer fighting foods.0 -
We Could Use Some HopeWaianaeGal said:Hope
Hi Deb,
Sure hope your husbands recent tests have good results. And that You and Yours had a wonderful Christmas.
My lab work in Nov was excellent with the exception of potasium being just shy of acceptable, so I'm eating bananas more often. It's fixable. Everything is going as before.
I've joined a local gym for strength training and continue to walk daily. Total weight loss since April is 60 pounds with 50 to go to get into a healthy BMI range. I continue to eat organic and natural as much as possible. I'd developed an intolerance to wheat products so that has eliminated breads, which has been a bit difficult, getting fiber into my diet means changing even more so... it also eliminated cakes, cookies etc... even though I'd not had those googies in months...
Well I wish you and your family a Happy New Year... and that life is good.
Carlene
My husband's test results came in... not so good we are thinking. Looks like the melanoma moved into the blood stream and into the his brain to build a little nest... another tumor we are told, another doctor's appointment with a neurologist on Monday for battle plan. Scared? Yes we are.
Keep up your good work Carlene, Happy New Year.
Deb
lovingwife to Bob, newly advanced to stage 4 melanoma0
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