Anecdotal, but indicates that exercise boosts immunity

[PeggySusi]

I am reading a lovely book of essays called These Precious Days by Ann Patchett. In the title essay a friend of the author is taking part in a clinical trial, having chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. As you will know, Chemo destroys white blood cells which provide immunity, so you have to have a high enough count to continue with each session. When the friend’s pre-treatment test showed that her count was too low, she would run up and down stairs for a while. (A big hospital in Nashville) and retest.. it would raise her count just enough to get another treatment..

[Annieapple A30min a day]

🍏 wow I found this interesting and certainly an incentive to keep running albeit slowly or short distances or whatever it takes!!! Thank you for this encouragement!

PS this was a very brave and determined lady. I have had chemo and found climbing stairs left me breathless let alone running up them!!

[PeggySusi in reply to Annieapple]

Exactly my thoughts when I read it.. I haven’t had chemo myself but I’ve seen my husband’s experiences of it, also brave and determined, but sick and exhausted. Just getting through it seems a chalkenge too far. But some people have that extraordinary will to live and ability to power through.

[Snowdrops_17]

Wow that's really interesting PeggSusi👌Since I am packing my little house up to move soon, I am up and down stairs, lifting , cleaning cupboards out etc! Lost 4 kg, now I am 69 kg! It's amazing how exercise can boost your white blood cells and immunity and also assist with weight loss 👍🥰

[Doris8 1000miles per year]

I never knew that about running upstairs to improve your white blood cells. I had chemo as well just about never made a month with low white . If I knew that would have tried it but just made it , it was last one as well. Good luck to your hubbie 🤗

[PeggySusi in reply to Doris8]

I’m glad you got through it.. hope you are ok now. My OH is doing well so far, thank you, after chemo and radiation, but he refused surgery as very high risk. On “watch and wait” now with scans every 3 months and no recurrence yet. 🤞