UTIs, Broccoli Science & Going Down the Rabbit Hole

UTIs, Broccoli Science & Going Down the Rabbit Hole

🌼 Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026

⚡ Energy: Frustrated but curious

❤️‍🩹 Status: Back on antibiotics (again 🙄)

🤓 Outlook: Learning, adjusting, and doing everything I can

Well… overnight my body decided it needed a little more excitement.

And by excitement, I mean another UTI. 😑

If you’re keeping track, the last one was in January.

Which, in my opinion, is way too soon for a sequel.

So here we are again… back on antibiotics (a different one this time), because apparently my body is currently running on a “minimal defense system” setting.

When I asked my oncologist why this is happening so close together, the answer actually made a lot of sense:

With my white blood cell count still so low, my body just doesn’t have the ability to effectively fight off bacteria right now.

So things like UTIs can develop more easily and more frequently.

Cool. Cool. Cool.

Love that for me. 😆

BUT…

In true Tina fashion, instead of just sitting around feeling sorry for myself, I decided to take a little trip down an internet rabbit hole.

And this one led me to something called Sulforaphane (SFN).

(Stay with me… I promise I’ll translate this out of science-speak.)

SFN is a compound that comes from broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables—and there have been studies looking at how it may play a role in supporting the body’s natural defenses against cancer.

Now before I go any further, let me be very clear:

👉 I am NOT a doctor.
👉 I am NOT giving medical advice.
👉 Please do your own research and talk to your doctor before trying anything new.

I’m just sharing what I’ve been learning and what I’ve personally decided to explore.

So here’s the “human version” of what all that research basically says:

SFN may help the body by:

• Supporting your natural defense systems
• Helping your body deal with damaged or abnormal cells
• Reducing inflammation (which is linked to a lot of health issues, including cancer)
• Potentially targeting certain stubborn cells that don’t respond well to traditional treatments

Now… does this mean it’s a magic cure?

Absolutely not.

Does it replace chemo, radiation, or anything my doctors are doing?

Also no.

But what it does mean—at least for me—is that there may be additional ways to support my body alongside the treatment plan I’m already on.

And if there’s something out there that might help even a little?

I’m at a point where I’m willing to explore it—responsibly and thoughtfully.

So I started taking it a couple of weeks ago.

And here’s my personal experience so far:

I feel like my chemo brain has lifted just a little bit.
I feel like I have slightly more energy.

Now, am I back to my old self?

Not even close.

But when you’ve been operating at 10%, even getting to 20% feels like a win.

So I’ll take it.

Again—this is just my experience, not a recommendation.

But I promised from the beginning of this journey that I would share all of it:

The hard stuff.
The weird stuff.
The “why is this happening again?” stuff.
And the “huh… this is interesting” stuff.

Because if something I share sparks a question, a conversation, or helps someone feel a little more informed or empowered…

Then it’s worth it.

So today’s lesson?

My immune system is still on vacation.
Antibiotics are back in my life.
And apparently… broccoli is having a moment. 🥦

💗 Tina –
One Badass Day at a Time