The IP-6 article published (under Articles) on this site last week inspired me to comment and blog about it.  I am a one-person case study for this supplement, which has a good reputation in the supplement community.

Please note that I am not trying to pass this off as equivalent to a controlled trial.  Many in the medical community are quick to criticize dietary supplements because they lack the "solid research evidence" of double-blind, control group studies.  (Many of the pharmaceutical studies are flawed, but that's a topic for another day.)  The reality is that these studies are prohibitively expensive and can't be funded without high pharma-like profits.  Rather, reputable companies rely on basic research, biomechanisms, and clinical evidence.  

Oncologists may take a dim view of supplements, but generally don't have time to understand the evidence related to their role in the immune response, or their potential role in post-chemotherapy survival.  There is a tendency in the pharmaceutical industry to group disreputable companies with reputable ones, thus disparaging the entire supplement industry.  Nevertheless, the percentage of adults using vitamins and supplements grows every year.

I contend that since chemotherapy damages the body's rapidly growing cells (including those Natural Killer cells and stem cells), the body needs extra help to restore healthy functioning.  That's why I am such an advocate of this supplement (I do not have any economic interest, in case you are interested!)

My story: 

My tumor marker tests showed that cancer was likely active in my body-- just after I had completed more than a year of the entire treatment cycle (lumpectomy, chemo, mastectomy, radiation).  Needless to say, I was very upset.  My oncologist had said that a single positive test result did not mean that I would need more treatment; rather, that it was multiple positive test results that were worrisome.

Not being the most patient patient, I started researching various ways to mobilize my immune system after chemotherapy.  I visited a holistic and complementary medicine center (associated with my alma mater, George Washington University), and began some acupuncture treatments.  The practitioner recommended some anti-inflammatory supplements in fairly large doses.

I "discovered" IP6 with Inositol in my local Vitamin Shoppe store.  Enzymatic Therapy (I had known their brand for many years) presented some compelling information about their product-- substantially increased natural killer cells.  In my situation, I had nothing to lose: I started taking the supplement at larger than the standard dose for healthy adults. I also added other supplements (see my chemo brain blog) which for which there was evidence of anti-tumor action.

That was five years ago.  My tumor marker tests began dropping back into the normal range and ultimately ended up well into the low normal range, where they have remained. Unfortunately, I can't easily add more data, since my insurance company now considers me "cured" and will not fund any more lab tests unless I have symptoms.

Now I increase my dosage whenever I begin to feel run down, and I am rarely sick.  In fact, I am now training for 150-mile bike ride for MS in the fall.