Immune System

Immune and lymphatic system health is necessary for protecting your body from germs and diseases. Known as the body's first line of defense, your immune system and lymphatic system help protect you from bacteria, viruses and fungi that cause disease. Your lymphatic system produces and carries white blood cells containing antibodies that fight off infection. Your lymphatic system transports and destroys dead or damaged cells and cancer cells, removing these substances from the blood stream. Problems with your immune and lymphatic system can result in various diseases. A weakened immune system can lead to diseases including cancer, the flu and chronic fatigue syndrome. An overactive immune system can lead to diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), Huntingdon's disease and lupus. Allergies occur when your immune system mistakes harmless substances for threats and attacks these harmless substances.

Recently Answered

QWhat is bone marrow?

5 Answers

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A Dr. Paul J. Shaughnessy, MD , Hematology & Oncology, answered on behalf of Methodist Hospital

In this video oncologist Paul Shaughnessy, MD, at Methodist Hospital, discusses the crucial role of bone marrow in producing our blood.

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QWhat is a bone marrow transplant?

5 Answers

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A Dr. Paul J. Shaughnessy, MD , Hematology & Oncology, answered on behalf of Methodist Hospital

In this video, oncologist Paul Shaughnessy, MD, at Methodist Hospital, explains the process by which a patient's stem cells are harvested before cancer treatment, and then returned to the body once chemotherapy is completed.

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QWhat is a lymphedema therapist?

2 Answers

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A Karel Wilkinson, PT , Physical Therapy, answered on behalf of Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center

A lymphedema therapist helps those with lymphedema to deal with chronic fluid build-up and skin conditions. Watch Karel Wilkinson, PT, CLT, LANA, or Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, explain more.

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QHow can I help prevent lymphedema?

1 Answer

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A Aurora Health Care answered
Breast lymphedema is a problem that may occur after surgery and treatment of breast cancer. It is the swelling of the arm, armpit, breast, or chest wall, on the side where the breast surgery was done. Infection of the arm, chest, or breast on the side where surgery was done, may trigger the onset of lymphedema. The following suggestions will help prevent infection:

Good hygiene is important. Keep the skin clean and dry. Use gentle soaps and lotions to prevent skin dryness and irritation. Try to avoid soaps and lotions with perfumes. These contain alcohol and can be very drying to the skin. Some good choices for soaps are Dove, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Basis, and Oil of Olay. Use a moisturizing lotion if you have dry skin.

Take precautions to avoid cutting or puncturing the skin of the affected arm. This may allow bacteria to get into the skin, which may lead to infection.

Avoid having injections or blood drawn in the affected arm.

Wear gloves while doing housework, gardening, or other types of work that may cause cuts, scrapes, or punctures.

Use an electric shaver instead of a safety razor. This will help avoid accidentally cutting the skin.

Keep cuticles neat using lotions, rather than cutting them.
QWhy should I allow my child to get dirty?

1 Answer

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A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

Let Them Eat Dirt. No, not as a meal and not by the bucket load. The point here is that it's better for your children to get messy, get dirty, and come in contact with the natural world than it is for them to grow up in an ultrasterile environment where you scrub every surface with disinfectant. The reason: You need to allow their immune armies to get their basic training. If they don't have an opportunity to practice fighting, then they'll be trigger happy when they encounter a minor intruder. So while we certainly recommend that you be vigilant when it comes to hand washing to protect against those viruses and bacteria that can get passed from kid to kid and from hand to mouth, remember that there's an absolute biological advantage to exposing your kid to all kinds of things in the natural world, including dirt. Note the difference between dirt (organic, such as what's found on a farm) and filth (city grime).
QWho is a candidate for an outpatient bone marrow transplant?

1 Answer

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A Dr. John P. Chute, MD , Hematology & Oncology, answered on behalf of UCLA Health
Potential candidates for outpatient bone marrow (hematopoietic cell) transplant include people with:

multiple myeloma

Hodgkin’s disease

non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

leukemia

myelodysplasia

relapsed lymphoma

If you are having an outpatient bone marrow transplant, you need to have a caregiver who can help you come to the clinic. You may need to do this daily or every two to three days for three to seven weeks, depending on the type of transplant.

This content originally appeared online at UCLA Health.
QHow is outpatient bone marrow transplantation done?

1 Answer

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A Dr. John P. Chute, MD , Hematology & Oncology, answered on behalf of UCLA Health
Bone marrow transplantation, or hematopoietic cell transplantation, has traditionally been done as an inpatient service. That means, you would stay in the hospital for up to 60 days to safely undergo the transplant and to recover. But the field has evolved so that some people can now safely receive the transplant in an outpatient center.

Outpatient bone marrow transplantation involves:

collecting blood or bone marrow stem cells from the person (autologous) or from a healthy donor (allogeneic)

giving immunosuppressive chemotherapy to the recipient

infusing the donor cells into the recipient.

This content originally appeared online at UCLA Health.
QHow likely am I to develop lymphedema after surgery?

1 Answer

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A Dr. Sheldon M. Feldman, MD , Surgery, answered on behalf of Columbia University Department of Surgery

Studies have found that the greater the number of lymph nodes removed, the greater the risk of developing lymphedema. Standard lymph node removal involves removal of level 1 and level 2 nodes, which may average 15-20 nodes. For many women, sentinel node biopsy may be the only procedure needed, which has a risk of less than 5% for leading to visible lymphedema.
QWhat are the benefits of outpatient bone marrow transplantation?

1 Answer

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A Dr. John P. Chute, MD , Hematology & Oncology, answered on behalf of UCLA Health

There are three key benefits to outpatient bone marrow, or hematopoietic cell, transplantation.

1. People who have this procedure are less likely to get infections out in the world compared to when they are in the hospital.
2. It has psychological and emotional benefits. The patient and their caregivers appreciate not being in a hospital for 1 to 2 months. Being in a hospital for that long can be a depressing experience.
3. The cost is significantly less—thousands of dollars less per day—than for inpatient care.

This content originally appeared online at UCLA Health.
QHow do I manage my myasthenia gravis on a daily basis?

2 Answers

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A Reston Hospital Center answered

If you have myasthenia gravis, there are several things you can do on a daily basis to manage your symptoms better. To conserve your energy, schedule activities that require your strength when you know you'll be up for them, and make sure to build a support network around you so you'll always have someone to help out. Use electrical appliances and tools when possible, and take rest breaks following periods of activity. If double vision is a problem, wearing an eye patch during vision-intensive activities (such as reading) may be an effective remedy.

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