# In what (common) diseases does having a strong immune system make no difference? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 7, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-common-diseases-does-having-a-strong-immune-system-make-no-difference/531666 "2010-03-07T23:22:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-common-diseases-does-having-a-strong-immune-system-make-no-difference/531666/41 "2010-03-11T01:59:09Z")
> [@rhubarbarin](#): > > I very rarely get ill (in terms of having any symptoms or feeling poorly) despite being surrounded by sick people, and I have assumed it was due to my individual body and it’s capabilities. Interestingly I was a sickly child and adolescant, it’s only in the last 5 years as I improved my diet and habits that I stopped getting multiple illnesses yearly (in particular colds and strep, and frequent tonsilitis and sinusitis - and until I was 11 or 12 I had severe ear infections 5 or more times per year). > > Before I cut out many common foods from my diet several months ago, I had lifelong autoimmune issues (frequent and varied skin reactions/rashes including chronic eczema, swelling/itching of the mouth and tongue, ‘hay fever’/dust allergies, symptoms indicating endometriosis, and IBS) - all of which are now gone. It’s quite interesting, [the list of conditions](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoimmune_disease)that are known are suspected to be autoimmune disorders. > > I didn’t see it mentioned yet that the gene (and associated change in hemoglobin) for sickle cell anemia (which as we know is seen in those of sub-Sharan African desent) is protective against malaria, and there is some evidence that carriers of the cystic fibrosis gene (mostly whites) have protecton against typhoid. What did you cut out? Not to hijack the thread or anything but I am interested. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-common-diseases-does-having-a-strong-immune-system-make-no-difference/531666/42 "2010-03-11T06:53:23Z")
> [@ToeJam](#): > > This isn’t quite true, as all of us have cancerous cells in our body throughout our lives, and for many to most of us, our immune system is on hand to take care of the problem and nip it in the bud so to speak. > > Having a strong immune system certainly does help vs. various types of cancerous cells. I doubt we have cancerous cells throughout our lives. We have _defective_ cells throughout our lives, and the immune system appears to play a role in removing such cells (though processes like apoptosis and DNA repair seem to play a much more crucial role), but that’s not the same thing. Of course, some infections increase the chance of developing certain cancers e.g. Genital warts -\> cervical cancer, so the immune system can help you here if it can prevent you getting infected. The immune system also attempts to fight tumours, but I don’t think there is data to say a strong immune system = better chance of spontaneous remission. Interestingly, there is some evidence to suggest that acquiring a feverish _infection_ may promote remission, because it triggers processes that can affect the tumour. [Cite (pdf)](http://bioinfo.tg.fh-giessen.de/cancer/hobohm-2001-cii.pdf) So perhaps it’s best to have a mediocre immune system, that lets you get sick but then is strong enough to mop up the tumour as well as the virus 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-common-diseases-does-having-a-strong-immune-system-make-no-difference/531666.md?page=2)