Your Immune System

The body has a very efficient surveillance system for recognising and destroying foreign or abnormal cells including cancer cells.

Lymph nodes - can trap and recognise abnormal cells

White blood cells - these attack and destroy the cancer cells

Antibodies - are special proteins manufactured by the body to attack specific types of abnormal cells.

It is thought that we all have small cancer changes from time to time and that our immune system deals with these so effectively that the cancers have no chance of developing.

It is more the exception than the rule when a cancer escapes these surveillance systems and is able to progress.

Conventional cancer treatment consists of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy - all methods that aim to kill cancer cells.

Whilst these methods form the mainstay of treatment it is equally important to support and actively enhance the immune system.