Natural Killer Cells

I discovered "Natural Killer Cells" quite by accident, and this, hands down, is one of the most exciting things I have learned about how to naturally destroy the cancer tumor embedded in my liver. Natural Killer Cells ("NK cells") are white blood cells, part of the body's first line of defense against cancer.

The science is way over my head, but the bottom line is this -- NK cells act like well-armed soldiers, fully equipped to recognize cellular intruders in a healthy body. Their job is to seek out and destroy viral infections and rogue cancer cells. Once identified, NK cells attach to the intruder, breach its cellular wall, and release a lethal package of chemicals that basically blow the cancer cell to smithereens! 
I imagine my NK cells looking like Pac Man, with all the requisite whistles and bells and the dying sounds as the cancer cells are consumed.

As people age, NK cells lose their functionality, leaving older adults far more vulnerable to the formation and metastasis of cancerous tumors. The good news is that certain changes to your diet can boost NK cell functionality.

I've still got a lot to learn about NK cells and how to boost their activity in my 60-year-old body. Still, I'm aware of these foods that can help boost the immune system and naturally activate those precious, diligent, life-saving NK cells:

Beta carotene is a powerful antioxidant that helps boost NK cells and protect against cancer. Beta carotene is found in these foods:

• carrots (but be careful because carrots are also high in sugar)
• sweet potatoes
• kale
• microgreens
• turnip greens
• collard greens
• beet greens
• spinach
• pumpkin 
• winter squash
• cabbage (esp. Chinese pak-choi)

Mitake and other medicinal mushrooms have been found to increase NK cell activity and inhibit colon cancer in laboratory animals.

Black pepper and cardamom significantly enhance the cytotoxic properties of NK cells, and garlic stimulates the production of NK cells.

I also believe in guided meditation, and have found this awesome one that is specific to NK cell activity to fight cancer. I listen to it every night as I go to sleep. The meditation helps me visualize the NK cells patrolling my body, seeking out and destroying the nasty invader to my liver and all other rogue cancer cells looking for a place to metastasize. I believe that guided meditation is a powerful tool for healing from a cancer diagnosis. So grateful to have this tool as I move through the healing of my Stage IV-A metastatic colon cancer.

What is upsetting, though, is that my oncologist has never mentioned anything to me about boosting my NK cell activity. Nothing, nada, zilch!! We've discussed the chemo / surgery regimen and my "life expectancy" with and without it. We've discussed the side effects of the chemo and the drugs I can take to help minimize / alleviate them. Wouldn't you think that improving / enhancing / activating my NK cell activity would be one of the first and most important orders of business? Especially since chemotherapy destroys the patient's immune system!! Hmmmmm . . . Wonder what would motivate an oncologist to keep silent on the miracle of NK cell activity?

Update February 28, 2017: I had an idea this morning to name my NK cells so I could continually encourage and thank them for annihilating the cancer in my liver. I've decided to call them "my little Gobblers". Now I know this has a completely different meaning in British English, but on this side of the pond it means only two things: (1) one who consumes voraciously / a hasty eater who swallows large mouthfuls; and (2) a male turkey. 

So grateful for my little Gobblers!!!