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New to CLL-no treatment-what to eat?

Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Oct 29, 2023 | Replies (28)

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@ksmith8771

I've been diagnosed with CLL & am not yet on any therapy meds. Can any supplements or foods improve my immune system?

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Replies to "I've been diagnosed with CLL & am not yet on any therapy meds. Can any supplements..."

Hello @ksmith8771 Our immune system takes a hit when we have a blood cancer so anything we can do to keep up a healthy diet with plenty of antioxidant, nutrient dense foods is vital to our health. Avoid process foods, fried foods, sugar and ‘bad’ fats.
As for supplements, there are theories surrounding the benefits of ECGC (green tea extract). I’ve posted a link to the discussion in the forum below.
However, it is not recommended to take these supplements without discussing it with your hematologist because there can be some serious complications with a high dosage of this extract.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-lyphocetic-leukemia/
I had AML which, in my case, was a very aggressive blood cancer. Prior to that diagnosis, I lived a really ‘clean’ life for decades with a super healthy diet, didn’t smoke, seldom drank alcohol, exercised and at 65 was walking 10 miles daily. I still got this blood cancer…totally random mutation that tricked my immune system. That occurrence then clipped me off at the knees in seemingly 3 weeks time. To that point, I had no symptoms though it would have started a few months before my diagnosis). Diet and a healthy life had no bearing on what happened to my immune system. However, it did impact how well I thrived through chemo and a bone marrow transplant. My medical teams have all stated that my previous life greatly and positively impacted my new life in that I recovered quickly and now, 4 years later, still in a durable remission. (And at 69, still walking at least 8 miles daily).

So you’re on the right track for finding foods and a lifestyle which will keep your compromised immune system as robust as possible. You may not require treatment for a long time, if ever, but in the meantime keep up your health with exercise, diet and a positive mental attitude.

I found this article that’s relevant to your CLL and question of diet and supplements.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-diet
There’s no magic bullet of foods and supplements. If there was, none of us would have to worry about our bone marrow churning out defective cells. But it’s important to keep moving forward and do the best we can. I read about your “Perfect Bars” from Costco. I’ll have to give them a try! Do they come in different flavors?