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.
What happens when life forces you to rebuild everything—your health, your identity, your relationships, and your future?In this deeply personal Patient Perspectives episode of Rubin On Point, Dr. Dan Rubin sits down with Micalyn McCready to unpack her extraordinary journey through tongue cancer, lung metastasis, brain lesions, radiation, immunotherapy, infections, seizures, and ultimately… remission.Micalyn shares what it was like to undergo tongue reconstruction surgery, relearn speech, navigate years of treatment, and completely reevaluate who and what truly mattered in her life. From losing friendships to discovering resilience, environmental health, and self-advocacy, this episode is an honest conversation about survival—and the mindset that carried her through it all.This is not just a cancer story.It’s a story about identity, perspective, and becoming stronger through unimaginable adversity.Topics Covered:* Tongue cancer diagnosis & reconstruction surgery* Living with an “arm tongue”* Radiation & immunotherapy treatment* Brain lesions, seizures, and hospitalizations* The emotional reality of survivorship* Friendships, support systems & boundaries* Environmental toxins, PFAS & heavy metals* Mindset, resilience & rebuilding life after cancerChapters:00:00 – Introduction01:05 – Meeting Micalyn & her diagnosis03:20 – Discovering tongue cancer10:37 – Life after tongue reconstruction surgery14:24 – Radiation treatment & recovery16:34 – Lung metastasis & immunotherapy21:28 – How cancer changed relationships25:05 – Redefining priorities & identity29:14 – Brain lesions & seizures36:02 – Severe infections & complications41:12 – Environmental toxins & PFAS discussion44:26 – Living cancer free