One of the most confusing questions people ask is how someone with an autoimmune disease can still develop cancer. A statistic published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that people with autoimmune disease have an increased risk of cancer, and that often feels contradictory if you’ve been told you have a strong immune system.
Autoimmune disease is not a sign of immune strength. It is a sign of immune dysregulation. When the immune system is confused, white blood cells can miss abnormal cell growth instead of recognizing and responding to it. This is why stimulating the immune system is not always the goal. Balance matters more than activation.
This conversation explores how immune imbalance, chronic inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and metabolic stress can distract the immune system from cancer surveillance. Topics include TH1 and TH2 balance, the role of the gut associated lymphatic tissue, how gut bacteria influence immune signaling, and why being “never sick” is not always a marker of immune health.
Supportive considerations during cancer treatment are also discussed, including how chemotherapy affects rapidly dividing cells, mitochondria, and immune resilience. The importance of adequate protein, amino acids, sleep, rest, and reducing inflammatory stressors is emphasized, along with why recovery requires rebuilding at the cellular level.
This discussion focuses on understanding how the immune system functions, why immune confusion matters, and how supporting balance and regulation can help the body recognize what it needs to respond to more effectively.
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email: lori@drlori.ca
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always work with your licensed healthcare provider and oncology team before making changes to diet, supplements, or fasting, especially during treatment.