Managing My Compromised Immune System
Carole McCue- Cancer patients may be susceptible to infections from their disease and from the treatment, which can destroy white blood cells (WBC). Our immune system is designed to recognize and destroy abnormal cells. This system of many biological structures and processes within an organism protects us against disease by detecting a wide variety of pathogens such as viruses and bacteria and distinguishing them from the body’s own healthy cells. As a cancer patient, my immune system has been affected and I am prone to frequent upper respiratory infections. I can remember mentioning to my oncology nurse practitioner that I had recently purchased several complementary supplements that were reported to enhance the immune system. During my chemotherapy, I experienced neutropenia or a low white blood cell count. It made sense to me that...
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