FAQ About Therapeutic Products for Cancer and Disease

1) How did ISM start?
2) How does the ISM “Aminomics” treatment work?
3) What are amino acids?
4) What do you specifically test?
5) How closely do you work with client’s medical doctor?
6) What is the definition of the word nutraceutical?
7) What makes your product better than other nutraceutical products?
8) Why can’t I just take multivitamins?
9) Will Aminomics cure me?
10) Will Aminomics interfere with other medications?
11) How long do I stay on the program?
12) Can I just have an ISM Aminomics blood test?
13) Why does the program seem expensive?
14) Why is your program not covered by public healthcare?
15) What do other doctors think of your approach?
16) Why is my doctor unfamiliar with you?
17) Is the program tax deductible?
18) I’m already on multivitamins. What do I do?
19) Do I need ISM supplementation even if I eat well?
20) What are the side effects?
21) My oncologist says that I shouldn’t use Aminomics supplementation two days before or after my chemotherapy. Why?
22) How are you funded? Is there any government money?
23) I see many negative general and targeted comments on the web. Why?
24) Where can I find more research data on ISM’s Aminomics?
25) What is your staff’s background?
26) What kind of research do we do?
27) Is there any other client with my diagnosis? Can I talk to them?
28) Where is your lab?
29) Who manufactures your products?
30) What diet do I need to follow?
31) How long does it take for a custom compound or Aminomics anlysis to be done?
32) When will I know that I am better?
33) When can I come off the compound?
34) How can I find out more?


1) How did ISM start?
The originating company started in 1992 as a private clinic in response to an urgent need for appropriate accurate cancer related information in the pre-internet era. In 2004, Immune System Management Inc was formed to apply and expand our research findings to a wider population. Today, we combine safe and effective Aminomic based therapies with the most current advances in modern medicine.

2) How does the ISM “Aminomics” treatment work?
The basis of our work is currently described in medical/scientific literature as somewhere between Genomics (the study of human DNA) and Proteomics (The study of human protein). We refer to this area of focus as Aminomics (the study of amino acids). There are estimated to be over 250,000 different proteins in the human body. Protein is essential in all metabolic and biochemical functions of the body, including the immune system. Our belief is that symptoms are caused by a disturbance/irregularity in protein. Protein is made from Amino Acids.

In simplistic terms, Aminomics works by boosting the immune system. Over the years, we have developed complex nutraceutical compounds and treatment protocols that are targeted to clients with specific disease states. The disease specific compounds are all highly bio-available, pathogen free, pharmaceutical grade compounds that include protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fatty acids, botanical extracts and antioxidants that are adjusted and administered in various combinations based on years of research and observation of clients having a variety of cancers and other diseases.

Top of Page >>

3) What are amino acids?
Everything from your hair down to your toes is made of combinations of amino acids. Your hormones, blood cells, muscles, organs and neurotransmitters in the brain are made of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of life. Your body, minus water, is 75 percent amino acids. Almost 100% of neurotransmitters are amino acids. 95 percent of hormones are amino acids, and 100 percent of all protein is amino acids. Amino acids govern and participate in every chemical reaction in the body.

There are twenty amino acids that do most of the building and eight of them are referred to as “essential” amino acids. This means it is essential you take them in through nutrition (or supplements) because your body cannot manufacture them from other chemicals.
The 100,000 different kinds of protein in the human body are made up of these essential 20 amino acids.

The following list shows the vast role that proteins play:

1. Enzymes
2. Structural protein — collagen and connective tissue
3. Contractile proteins — muscle tissue.
4. Transport proteins — hemoglobin
5. Immune proteins — immunoglobulins
6. Regulatory proteins — hormones

Top of Page >>

4) What do you specifically test?
We have developed a highly sensitive, proprietary test for amino acids using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HLPC) technology. HPLC allows us to effectively and accurately separate, purify, quantify, and identify chemicals within blood. We observe the changes in the amino acids over time within a client and are able to correlate these changes with various client exhibited diagnostic and therapeutic indicators. With the precise results provided by our Aminomics Analysis, nutritional deficits, metabolic impairments, and amino acid transport disorders can be accurately identified and corrected.

5) How closely do you work with client’s medical doctor?
We typically need to see a client’s medical charts and history of illness/treatment. All laboratory data and other information can be forwarded to your physician electronically with your approval.

6) What is the definition of the word nutraceutical?
The term "nutraceutical" was coined from "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical" in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice, MD. Health Canada now defines nutraceutical as: a product isolated or purified from foods, and generally sold in medicinal forms not usually associated with food and demonstrated to have a physiological benefit or provide protection against chronic disease.

Top of Page >>

7) What makes your product better than other nutraceutical products?
Our nutraceutical compounds have been utilized in a clinical setting for many years and the therapeutic results have been thoroughly documented.

Because there is little regulation of the supplement industry, you have no guarantee that your supplements contain what the label states. Our products are manufactured under the most stringent conditions, in a Health Canada, “Good Manufacturing Practice” accredited compounding laboratory and are pathogen free, highly bio-available and pharmaceutical grade and undergo independently verified laboratory testing . When a client is acutely ill, it is essential to only use the highest quality therapeutics that do not introduce new pathogens or complications to the already challenged immune system.

8) Why can’t I just take multivitamins?
Vitamins help release energy from our food and help build muscle, bone, blood and other vital tissue. Without a regular supply of vitamins, we cannot maintain good health and normal growth. However, multivitamins alone are not a treatment for any illness, nor will they directly balance a person’s amino acid/protein deficiency.

Top of Page >>

9) Will Aminomics cure me?
Our treatment is not a direct “cure” for cancer or any other chronic disease. In today’s conventional and alternative medical world, there is really no such thing as a “cure”. Aminomics is designed to specifically target and boost an individual’s immune system. If effective in this role, it can prolong life and improve the quality of same.

10) Will Aminomics interfere with other medications?
There is no known drug interaction. You may explore the drug safety and interactions of all our compounds within the Nutraceutical Search function in this website. It is always wise to inform your physician of any nutraceutical or pharmaceutical treatment that you are undergoing.

In many cases, people can reduce some or all of their medications after four to six months of ISM supplementation, if their response to supplementation has been excellent. Reducing or eliminating medication must be a decision that you make only with your doctor's advice.

Top of Page >>

11) How long do I stay on the program?
Regaining and maintaining good health is a life-long process. But if your primary concern is how long it will take to get rid of a specific problem or disease, we can only really estimate your length of treatment after we have completed your health assessment and blood analysis. Treatment programs vary depending on the individual, the state of illness and other factors such as ongoing lifestyle, previous medical treatments, etc. Typically, the program will be between 6 and 18 months.

Individual variations can occur depending on clinical response. Many clients begin to feel the effects of their new program within three to six months. Once that positive response begins, people generally feel better and better. Their positive response may not plateau for six to twelve months. A small percentage of clients require some level of supplementation support indefinitely.

12) Can I just have an ISM Aminomics blood test?
A single Aminomics blood test will provide information about the current status of your blood plasma. The re-interpretation of blood testing in response to treatment over-time guides us on our efficacy.

Top of Page >>

13) Why does the program seem expensive?
We set out to make a line of premier therapeutic nutraceuticals and wanted, above all else, to make sure that the products would contain the highest quality ingredients and would provide the maximum possible benefits. The cost of the program reflects our true costs of product and delivery. This is not a mass produced product. Individual attention is required at all stages. Only the highest pharmaceutical grade, highly bio-available and pathogen free biochemical compounds are used. We pay high prices for the best quality ingredients to provide you with the best, scientifically based formulations. We can find less expensive substrates, but we do not believe that they will be clinically effective.

The lifetime treatment cost for late stage disease is over $100,000. And the cost of new chronic disease pharmaceuticals is spiraling upwards— up to $10,000 a month for a single drug. The average cost of a 30-day prescription for cancer drugs is now nearly $1,600. Some of the most expensive prescriptions extend a client's life by a few months or a year.

14) Why is your program not covered by public healthcare?
Unlike certain European countries, nutraceutical therapeutics are rarely covered by public healthcare in North America. Costs associated with the program are sometimes covered by certain insurance plans. If you have a plan that provides coverage for alternative medical services, we will be happy to assist you in submitting your bill to your insurance company for reimbursement. It is your responsibility to find out what your plan will cover.

Many cancer clients struggle to pay for care. In Canada, health care funding largely falls under provincial jurisdiction, so each province makes its own decision about which drugs it will fund based on its priorities and means. Most natural therapies, such as Aminomics, are not funded publicly despite the proven ability of nutrient supplementation to reduce public healthcare costs by billions of dollars. At ISM, we recognize that the financial costs of cancer treatment are a burden to those diagnosed with cancer, their families, and society as a whole. ISM continues to maintain the cost of services as low as practically possible while maintaining extremely high quality standards.


15) What do other doctors think of your approach?
Doctors who have chosen to contact us directly and discuss our Aminomics approach in person are more informed than those who have chosen not to.

Top of Page >>

16) Why is my doctor unfamiliar with you?
We have never done any direct advertising. All of our clinical client’s have historically come from referrals from other clients. We specialize in a particular discipline, and there are other medical professionals who are not well versed in that discipline. Your doctor can chose to contact us, in person, by phone, fax or e-mail.

17) Is the program tax deductible?
Your tax adviser can help you fit the ISM program into your personal tax situation. Documentation from your health care provider may be necessary.

18) I’m already on multivitamins. What do I do?
It is rare for clients on the ISM program to need additional multivitamins as we cover most, if not all, requirements. However, individuals do differ, but this should be reviewed by a medical professional.

Top of Page >>

19) Do I need ISM supplementation even if I eat well?
The modern human body has to deal with a lot more external stress, including work / home related, environmentally related (pollution, pesticides, acid rain, etc.) and nutrition related with higher fat foods, trans-fatty acids and processed foods. It is almost impossible to get what we need to stay healthy without some form of supplementation. It is also important to keep in mind that most people are failing to meet even the most basic population based RDAs. The ISM program targets those areas of deficiency.

20) What are the side effects?
There are no severe side effects to the ISM program. There have been some minor changes noted by our clients when starting treatment. These include changes in bowel habit, changes in smell and colour of urine and energy fluctuations. Transient joint symptoms are possible.

21) My oncologist says that I shouldn’t use Aminomics supplementation two days before or after my chemotherapy. Why?
We are aware of the controversy concerning the theory of high dose anti-oxidants nullifying chemotherapy. However, there is no problem with use of amino acids in this situation.
A recent research report (INTEGRATIVE CANCER THERAPIES 5(1); 2006 pp. 63-82) summarizes that rhere is far more information available regarding antioxidant supplements as an appropriate adjunctive cancer therapy than is acknowledged.

Clients would be well advised to seek the opinion of physicians who are adequately trained and experienced in the intersection of 2 complex fields, that is, chemotherapeutics and nutritional oncology. Physicians whose goal is comprehensive cancer therapy should refer their clients to qualified integrative practitioners who have such training and expertise to guide clients. A blanket rejection of the concurrent use of antioxidants with chemotherapy is not justified by the preponderance of evidence at this time and serves neither the scientific community nor cancer clients.

22) How are you funded? Is there any government money?
Provincial health plans do not cover costs. There is no direct government funding of our clinics or products. Individual clients pay directly for all blood testing, consultations and Aminomics compounds. Certain insurance programs may cover some or all of the costs.