Lymphatic Drainage for Cancer Patients

Happy Valentines Day to Everyone!

What I Do To Empower My Lymphatic System

 When you are fighting cancer, you need your immune system to heal your body while at the same time destroying the microscopic cancer cells that can lead to metastasis. The lymphatic system is an important part of our immune system and very important to overall health. It's responsible for removing waste, toxins, and other unwanted material out of your cells and tissues so they can be flushed out of your body. 

There are over 600 lymph nodes dispersed throughout your body which work along with lymph fluid & vessels and lymph organs & tissues to help the body defend itself against disease. The lymphatic system produces white blood cells and generates disease-fighting antibodies. It rids your body of toxins and cellular waste, but that's not all - it is also responsible for carrying away cancerous cells! So we want it to be working efficiently, don't we? If your lymph stops flowing freely, your garbage begins to pile up as waste accumulates in your cells and tissues. 

Lymphocytes attack bacteria and viruses in the blood. They can multiply to attack foreign agents and are carried to all of the tissues in our body by the lymph vessels. Unlike your blood which has a beating heart to move it along, the lymph depends on physical movement in order to keep it flowing. If you don't move much, your lymph doesn't move much either. That's why its important for us to engage in some form of bouncy movement every day, like brisk walking. 

The lymph fluid moves through vessels that are filled with one way valves, so the lymph always moves in the same direction. The main lymph vessels run up the legs, up the arms, and up the torso. This is why the vertical up and down movement of brisk walking, jumping rope, light jogging or jumping on a mini-trampoline is so effective to pump the lymph. 

There are three ways to activate the flow of lymph fluid away from the tissues, allowing it to take toxins away from the tissues and deliver them back into the blood supply for removal: 
1. Exercise and Vertical Movement 
2. Gravitational Pressure 
3. Massage of the Valves of the Lymph Ducts (by a therapist or by dry skin brushing). 

If you are able to go to a therapist trained in the art of lymphatic massage, it would be a great complimentary treatment. I would like to do another 3 day fast with wheat grass and fresh vegetable juice, accompanied by lymphatic massages. This is something we did at the Optimum Health Institute.  

Another way to manually "massage" and encourage the lymph to drain is to practice dry brushing. You need a  long-handled, natural-hair, skin-brush made specifically for dry skin brushing.  Brush your skin when it is dry (usually just before getting in the shower). Brushing strokes correspond with the flow of the lymph which is toward the heart: start with circular motions on the soles of the feet, stroke up each leg, up each arm, up the groin, across the armpits to the chest, etc. Brush gently down from the sides of neck to the armpits. Don't brush nipples. Don't brush wet skin. Brush the back from the spine out to each side.  Brush in counter-clockwise circles over the abdomen (corresponding with the flow of elimination).

For daily lymphatic drainage, rebounding is a fantastic exercise. It has the same effect on your body as jumping rope without the jarring effect to the ankles, knees and lower back that comes from hitting the ground. During the course of a rebounding session, the vertical bouncing creates the gravitational pressure and motion to effectively move and recycle the lymph and blood supply through the circulatory system many times.  Gentle bouncing for 10 to 20 minutes a day is all that is needed to stimulate lymph drainage. Your feet barely need to leave the mini-trampoline to be effective. I have recently added rebounding for lymphatic drainage to my regular exercise program of walking with periodic short bursts of jogging in the fresh air and sunlight.  

UPDATE: If you have osteoporosis of the spine, avoid jumping as it may cause compression fractures. In that case stick to mild bouncing without the feet leaving the trampoline, or stick to brisk walking!

Affirmations for a Strong Immune System

One of the first things I learned when I found out I had cancer was: Stress needs to be eliminated if you want to beat cancer.  

I use guided imagery, affirmations, and meditation as effective tools to reduce my body's stress response (the release of adrenaline and cortisol). Here's a bit of information about Stress and Cancer: (I've referenced the medical journals below).

A) Chronic stress weakens a person's immune system and is linked to virus-associated cancers like sarcomas (1). 
B) Recent research suggests that stress hormones released into the blood can directly alter important processes in cells that help protect against the formation of cancer, such as DNA repair and the regulation of cell growth (2). 
C) Stress hormones can affect the growth and spread of cancer tumors (3).

Cancer Compass ran a great article about utilizing Yoga for relaxation, health, and well-being - The article stated:
"According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, proper yoga practice combines: 1) Physical postures that participants flow into and then hold, before proceeding to the next posture. 2) A focus on breathing techniques that make participants more aware of their bodies. 3) Deep meditation and relaxation, allowing participants to focus on their spirituality. All of those elements must be in place for people to get the best results for their health and well-being, said Karen Sherman, an affiliate associate professor of epidemiology with the Center for Health Studies in the School of Public Health at the University of Washington."
The article goes on to say....."Be wary of teachers who focus on postures without also emphasizing breathing and meditation. You won't be getting the same benefit."

Have at Least One Entire Day per Week Dedicated to De-Stressing

I dedicated Today as my "relaxing day." I made my shaker of wheat grass and went for acupuncture at 8:30 AM. At 11:00 AM I met my mother at the Lake and we walked for 2 hours in the lovely, mild sun. After a raw lunch we read an inspirational healing book out loud, followed by an hour's meditation to Deuter's Nature CD. Then I read these affirmations (below) aloud. We ended the day with a funny movie (BBC's Masterpiece Theatre's Cranford, set in the 1840's) and a healthy, raw vegan dinner. 

Note: My mother passed away on December 23, 2019 at the age of 91. She was a mighty force in my healing journey. She was the one who immediately offered me words of strength and confidence in my body's ability to heal and become completely free of disease. She was inspired by Louise Hay's book, "You Can Heal Your Life," and gave me a cassette tape introducing me to affirmations. Years later (2020) I have rediscovered Louise Hay and am astounded by the healing power of her teachings. Highly recommend!!

Affirmations are the assertion that something exists or is true.  When I repeat these affirmations in my mind, it gives my body a strong signal to be well.

These are some of my favorite affirmations from the CD Healthy Immune System by Belleruth Naparstek:

"I can feel peaceful and calm from breathing deeply in and out.  I can allow myself to let go of worrying about things I can't control and focus on my own inner strength. 

I can appreciate myself and take time to take care of myself.  My body is my faithful ally, my oldest friend, and my steadiest companion.  

My powerful immune system protects me and sees to my well being.  I intend to increase the effectiveness of my immune system to better monitor and protect my body. 

My body has the built-in capacity to repair and heal itself.  The glands that house my immune cells are full of vitality and power. 

My thymus gland warms as it dispatches loyal, protective fighter cells all through my body.

Loyal fighter cells in my body are seeing to my well-being by eliminating any unwelcome presence. 

My defender cells seek out any invaders inside my body, dispatching easily and quickly. 

The fighter cells within me are able to clone themselves to become exactly the right number needed to protect me. 

My miraculous T-cells multiply and spread out to accost each and every compromised cell. 

Suppressor cells know when to call the fighting to a halt, calming and settling my immune system down.

Continual protection is offered by the specialized cells patrolling my body: removing viruses, cancer cells and bacteria. 

The clean up crew of feeding cells cleanse my tissue of any debris, leaving my insides fresh and clean and strong.

The cells in the spleen and lymph nodes produce perfectly programmed missiles that target compromised cells, eliminating them quickly and easily. 

My body has a built-in capacity to maintain its own integrity and renew its strength. It works night and day all through my body.

A warm, pulsing, glowing blanket surrounds me and envelops me with protection and safety, soaking its soothing energy into me. 

Radiant sunlight enter and warms my body infusing health and strength and healing to every corner of my being.

I send a message to every cell in my body that it is time to sweep out the old and make room for the new. I thank the prayers and good wishes sent my way. 

I thank my body for its faithful service to me.  I return the favor by becoming better able to listen to my body and sense what it needs. Thank you for all you have done in the past and all you will do in the future.

I am held in the Hands of God. 

And so you are!"

1. Reiche EM, Nunes SO, Morimoto HK. Stress, depression, the immune system, and cancer. The Lancet Oncology 2004; 5(10):617–625.

2. Antoni MH, Lutgendorf SK, Cole SW, et al. The influence of bio-behavioural factors on tumour biology: Pathways and mechanisms. Nature Reviews Cancer 2006; 6(3):240–248.

3. Thaker PH, Han LY, Kamat AA, et al. Chronic stress promotes tumor growth and angiogenesis in a mouse model of ovarian carcinoma. Nature Medicine 2006; 12(8):939–944. 

Please post your comments and let me know what you do to de-stress. I'd also love to hear what topic you would like to see in future blogs. I wish you peace, light, and health! God bless you.