Immune System (Vigor)
Dampened Immunity
Your immune system can be compromised, whether it is due to the cancer itself dampening the effectiveness of your body’s defense system or the effect of chemotherapy, targeted therapies, etc. further burdening your natural immunity. Other factors, such as stress, can also affect the robustness of your immune system. Whatever the reason, you will find you need to be more aware of your circumstance and need to take precautions to keep yourself as healthy as possible.
Recommendations
Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth..
When you are at your treatment nadir (immunity lowpoint) request that friends not visit if they’re under the weather or have been generally socializing.
Wear a N-95 mask to protect yourself from airborne infections and from touching your nose, mouth while away from home.
Discuss with your GP and or Oncologist about which vaccines you should receive and their timing.
Follow your physician’s guidance, especially when undergoing intravenous chemotherapies and/or radiation. These treatments tend to affect your immune system more deeply because some regimens also require the use of steroids to mitigate post-infusion side effects.
Autoimmune Symptoms
During treatment with a combination targeted treatment regimen I presented several different clusters of symptoms at various times that were suspected to be autoimmune diseases. However, when tested for specific autoimmune diseases, that particular disease was ruled out. I also had an allergy skin test conducted on my back and a majority of sensitivities were indicated even though I had never suffered from most of those allergies previously. Once I discontinued this particular combination cancer therapy these varying autoimmune-like symptoms and sensitivities went away.
Recommendations
If symptoms persist consult your physician to rule out more concerning conditions.
Healing Issues
Because your immune system may be compromised due to some chemotherapy or targeted treatments interfering with the body’s ability to heal wounds, you may notice it takes longer for your skin to heal even if you have slight wounds or scratches.These open wounds may make it easier for infections to take hold so be more conscientious in periodically giving yourself a once over inspection.
Recommendations
Take care, especially with your extremities such as your feet in keeping them clean and dry and well attended to if you have blisters or injuries. Your circulation to these areas may not be as robust as in the past so healing may take longer.
Be more judicious about wearing comfortable shoes and keeping your toenails trimmed and feet clean.
If gardening or doing chores wear non latex gloves to protect your hands, nail beds and fingernails, to avoid infection
If you get a wound, even a minor one, such as a bleeding hangnail, keep an eye on it and if it becomes slightly red or puffy, wash the area, put neosporin and a band aid on it, and check it daily.
If you get scabs or sores on your scalp try not to pick at them as they may become infected.
If you have a larger wound, such as from surgery, keep it moist and soft with ointment to aid its healing. Once it has healed together, you may consider using a product such as Mederma as it is supposed to help healing and minimize scarring. I’m not sure it works but if nothing else its moisturizing effect may help with the dry skin around the healing site.
Fatigue
Fatigue can be debilitating at times. At times I felt like my “tail feathers were dragging.” I couldn’t seem to recover and minor tasks often rapidly exhausted my energy level. I often felt a level of mild, general achiness as well. It can be a chronic condition for those undergoing cancer treatment.
Recommendations
Although it sounds counterintuitive, getting yourself up and walking a bit, ideally outside if you can, even around the block can help alleviate the severity of fatigue.
Exercise often helps, whatever you can do
B12 shots every quarter helped me, to take the edge off, I likened it not “dragging my tail feathers.” The shots dont help everyone but it makes a difference for me and I have continued having them given to me by my GP on an ongoing basis. The frequency depends on how you feel.
B12 shot: every quarter or as needed; administered by my general practitioner. It was a clinical trial requirement when I was being treated with Alimta/Tarceva, but I continued to request the shot as needed after I stopped that treatment regimen. I found B12 shots helped to take the edge of my more severe fatigue. The B12 shots seem to help some but not all patients.
Downside of B12 is it's very hard to absorb orally even if you take a lot. Much easier to just get a shot in the arm and I felt better within a couple of days.
Have your GP do a blood test to check for anemia as that condition can affect how vigorous you feel.
Acupuncture: some lung cancer patients have mentioned that acupuncture has helped alleviate their symptoms.
Sleep issues can exacerbate fatigue.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Dehydration can exacerbate weakness and fatigue.
Fatigue may not technically be an immune issue but it definitely affects how you feel and how vigorous you are.