Your immune system is a large network of organs, white blood cells, proteins and chemicals. These parts all work together to protect you from germs and other invaders. Your immune system also helps your body heal from infections and injuries.
Your immune system works hard to keep you healthy. It does this by:
Invaders your immune system protects you against include:
When your immune system is working properly, it:
But things don’t always go this smoothly. Sometimes, your immune system doesn’t work properly. For example, it may be too weak to fight off invaders, or it may launch too strong of a response.
Many different conditions can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to infection. Conditions at birth are less common than those that develop later in life, like Type 2 diabetes and cancer.
At the other end of the spectrum, your immune system may react too strongly to invaders (real or perceived). It may mount an attack when there’s no invader. Or it may keep attacking after getting rid of an invader. An overactive immune system can lead to problems like autoimmune diseases or allergic reactions.
We’ll help you choose the right place for your symptoms — from virtual visits and primary care to Express Care or the ER.
At the other end of the spectrum, your immune system may react too strongly to invaders (real or perceived). It may mount an attack when there’s no invader. Or it may keep attacking after getting rid of an invader. An overactive immune system can lead to problems like autoimmune diseases or allergic reactions.
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Learning you have cancer can be stressful and shocking. From the moment you get the news, you’re a survivor. As you face the challenges that go along with cancer treatment and recovery — physical and emotional — we’ll be right there with you. At Cleveland Clinic, survivorship care is one part of your journey. We offer a wide range of services, resources, clinics and support groups to help with any physical, emotional, financial and spiritual needs you might have related to your cancer diagnosis. Lending a helping hand along the way, we want you to not only survive, but thrive on this journey and beyond.
Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations in Ohio, Florida, Nevada and London.
“I remember that I once feared so greatly these days that I'm living in now. But it's not nearly as frightening when you have people walking alongside you and a good medical home with all the doctors in one place — and they talk to each other. That's tremendous.”Read this patient story
If you have symptoms of cyclospora, start with an Express Care Virtual Visit. You can also contact your primary care provider or go to one of our Express Cares or Urgent Cares. Learn when emergency care is appropriate.
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Having cancer may feel like running a hard race toward a finish line. People with cancer may keep the line in mind as they do their best to power through cancer’s challenges. Finishing treatment, however, may not always mean they’ve crossed it.
Some people are cancer-free after their initial treatment but don’t feel free from cancer. Other people still see the finish line, but they keep running into cancer. For others, the finish line they reach is very different from the one they expected.
That’s where cancer survivorship comes in. Cancer survivorship programs carry people through cancer, helping them to live as long as they can and with the best possible quality of life.
Choosing the right doctor can be difficult. How do you know that you can believe the ratings you see online? Cleveland Clinic is committed to helping you find the right physician for you with ratings you can trust.
