My body's immune system after cancer

Posted by rhongirl @rhongirl, Mar 12, 2022

As I sit here with yet another cold, I'm wondering if others have had this experience after chemo. I was diagnosed Dec. 2019, with chemo in 2020, and multiple surgeries (4 to date) over the next two years. My oncologist told me they gave me the highest dose of chemo they safely could, as the type of cancer I had was not very nice. During the almost six months of chemo, my body did not experience valleys in its counts, and chemo was as scheduled throughout. I counted myself so very fortunate.

But now, a little over two years since this all began, I find myself struggling to get through a simple cold. Since Christmas, I had a cold (sinus infection), the stomach flu, another cold that turned into pneumonia, and only to recover and pick up another cold. I am now on antibiotics again. Everyone else in the family took days to recover from their colds, but unfortunately, not me. We have 13 grandchildren who live within a 1/2 mile of us (wonderful!), but the dr. called them "little petri dishes" yesterday. One sniffle from a child, and I catch their bug and go down. Has anyone else experienced this? I've talked to another breast cancer survivor, and she told me it took her a long time (years). While I do not post to complain, it is rather to understand what others' experiences have been. Does your body ever strengthen to the level as it was before cancer treatment?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

carolah70 | @carolah70 | 4 days ago

My immune system has always been a struggle but definitely worse post chemo and radiation… one nurse told me that the the treatment what’s all that you were vaccinated with as a child. I’m just looking into what I can and need to have again to build up my resistance…

maymore | @maymore | 3 days ago

I know it seems like a lot but
here’s what I did to boost and build my immune system after cancer. I did refuse any chemo so maybe that helped my situation and now I am four years out.
1. Get plenty of sleep (I try for eight but I usually get 6 to 7) I’m not a good sleeper.
2. Move your body everday, rain or shine. In the beginning I walked sometimes just to the mailbox now I jog 5 miles every day. I do this even when I’m exhausted.
3. Eat all “organic” foods, including plenty of vegetables and fruit!! Throw out all the bad stuff like refined sugar, your condiments, and go totally organic. The only time I splurge is if I go out because obviously most restaurants don’t serve organic food. But I do look for them.
4. Eliminate alcohol if you imbibe. Maybe once or twice a year I’ll have a celebratory glass of wine.
5. Wash your hands frequently
6. Take vitamin D with k. I actually take many more supplements, but I think those are the crucial ones.
7. Throw out all your skin and makeup products and buy all organic.
8. Meditate and listen to music to relax

mistymar | @mistymar | 2 days ago

I know this post is older (started in 2022 but it does ring true. Had chemo in fall 2023. Counts were fine during the infusions to the point where he finally stopped doing bloodwork in between, just day of. Radiation afterwards and then saw him again 3 months later to start ai. He commented “everything looks good” even though counts were off - low white count and very low lymph’s. Next visit same so I asked him and he commented it was fine for where I was in treatment and we would watch it, he would be more concerned about anemia. Finally about 5 months later asked again and he commented that the white count was recovering, almost normal and that lymph count could take 2-3 years to recover or even be permanent. It just meant I was immunocompromised. I knew this but feel for those who don’t, something should have been said early on like it may take a while for your body to recover and you are immunocompromised so be a little more careful. Anyway, here we are in July 2026 and white count goes up and down but does go normal, lymph’s still low. I do all of what maymore suggested except the sleep which for me is impossible on these ai meds. I don’t heal as well if I get injured - small cuts etc, even insect bites but I have managed to avoid anything serious. And I have gone to meetings, group get togethers etc without masking. Same with supplements - probably more than I need but I am careful and research what I take.