Healing Power of the Terrain: Immune Surveillance

Though there are a few intriguing experimental research approaches, an all-natural immune-based cure for cancer is for now still more dream than reality. However, this is not to say that you can’t enlist your immune system in your battle against cancer. In Life Over Cancer, Dr. Block details his recommendations for an “immune support program.” At the foundation of this self-care program is, of course, the Life Over Cancer diet. Here are a few additional recommendations that can help support immune function: 

• Avoid tobacco smoke.
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol makes natural killer cells sluggish, reducing their arsenal of perforin, the chemical bullet they use to kill cancer cells.
• Minimize emotional distress. Stress can impede the activity of natural killer cells.
• Avoid unhealthy weight loss.
• Get active! Failing to engage in physical activity is associated with lower NK cell activity and impaired T cell function.
• Reduce dietary fat. A high-fat diet can decrease the cancer-cell killing power of NK cells. In addition, T cells show poorer functioning when exposed to high levels of saturated fats. 
• Reduce, or eliminate dairy. Casein, a cow’s milk protein, can shift the balance of the T helper cells toward the Th2 response at the expense of the cancer-killing Th1 response. 
• Watch iron levels: too much of this mineral can have an adverse impact on your immune system. Iron can raise levels of oxidative stress, which can suppress your immune system. Avoiding red meat and eating a vegetable-rich diet (such as the Life Over Cancer core diet) will help keep iron levels in check.
• Build your diet around high-fiber, low-fat foods. Aim for a dozen servings a day of phytochemical-rich vegetables and fruits (a good green-vegetable and fruit drink can help you meet this goal). Carotenoid-rich vegetables appear to be an especially good way to maintain healthy T cell function.

The careful use of supplements:
Though it’s optimal to tailor all supplement use to your unique needs, there are some general recommendations outlined in Life Over Cancer that you may find helpful. And (as we’ve mentioned before!), please consult with your treating physician prior to starting any supplement regimen. 

Dr. Block recommends patients consider taking a multivitamin, mineral and cofactor formulation designed specifically for cancer patients. This can help restore essential micronutrients. Look for a multivitamin with vitamins E, C, and B6; zinc, magnesium, and selenium; also use fish oil, carotenoids, and medicinal mushroom extracts. Many cancer patients are deficient in these nutrients; deficiencies can shift the balance of T helper cells toward the Th2 pathway at the expense of the cancer-fighting Th1 pathway. CoQ10, an enzyme that stimulates the immune system generally, can increase blood levels of T lymphocytes. 

Because many cancer patients experience immune suppression during chemotherapy or other treatments, it is advisable to work closely with your physician and/or integrative practitioner to overcome deficits. If they are marked, in most cases, you will likely need medications.