What does it really mean to heal? To find strength in uncertainty? To not just survive, but thrive?
Welcome to Rubin on Point. I’m Dr. Dan Rubin, a naturopathic oncologist exploring the science—and soul—of resilience.
This podcast is about how we heal, adapt, and harness our inner strength. Through conversations with experts, survivors, and innovators, we’ll uncover how people redefine health and transform their lives—no matter the challenge. Let’s get started.
Can a cancer diagnosis become the catalyst for changing healthcare forever?
In this episode of Rubin On Point, Dr. Dan Rubin sits down with Ivelisse Page, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Believe Big Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging conventional and integrative oncology.
After overcoming both stage IV colon cancer and endometrial cancer without chemotherapy, Ivelisse has devoted her life to patient advocacy, advancing mistletoe therapy research, and expanding access to whole-person cancer care.
Together, they explore her remarkable journey—from receiving an 8% chance of survival to becoming a driving force behind integrative cancer research and compassionate patient support.
Ivelisse shares how one moment in a hospital waiting room inspired the creation of Believe Big, the role mistletoe therapy played in her healing, and her vision for the Believe Big Institute of Health, an innovative model designed to make integrative oncology more accessible for patients everywhere.
The conversation also explores the emotional and spiritual aspects of healing, the importance of community, and why resilience is about much more than simply surviving cancer.
Whether you’re navigating a cancer diagnosis, supporting a loved one, or
passionate about the future of integrative medicine, this episode offers hope, inspiration, and a powerful reminder that healing happens on many levels.
In this episode, you’ll learn about:
• Ivelisse’s personal cancer recovery journey and healing philosophy
• The mistletoe clinical trials she helped initiate with Johns Hopkins University
• The vision behind the Believe Big Institute of Health and its patient-centered programs
• Why addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of healing matters
• How resilience, purpose, and community can transform the cancer experience
If you’re interested in learning more about Believe Big’s work, join the Believe Big Integrative Cancer Symposium on October 17 in Towson, Maryland, where leading experts in integrative oncology will share the latest research and clinical insights.
Ivelisse and her husband have also launched Wellness Home Direct, a professional-grade wellness marketplace featuring carefully curated products to support health and healing.
Learn more:
🤍 Believe Big Foundation: https://believebig.org
🤍 Believe Big Integrative Cancer Symposium: https://believebig.org
🤍 Wellness Home Direct: https://www.wellnesshomedirect.com
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:43 Meet Ivelisse Page
02:25 The vision for an integrative cancer hospital
06:07 Healing beyond medicine: emotional and spiritual care
10:03 Her stage IV colon cancer diagnosis
13:24 The symptoms that changed everything
16:24 Choosing an individualized approach to treatment
17:23 Receiving an 8% chance of survival
19:20 Discovering mistletoe therapy
20:50 Liver surgery and the road to recovery
22:00 The Africa mission trip that reshaped her purpose
26:51 The waiting room that inspired Believe Big
28:25 The story behind the Believe mugs
30:20 Overcoming fear during cancer treatment
32:30 Becoming cancer-free
36:21 Funding the first Johns Hopkins mistletoe clinical trial
38:53 Why the organization is called Believe Big
41:27 EMF protection and resilience
42:32 Final thoughts on hope and healing
43:05 Outro