Welcome to the new world of the Emerald Heart Blog. This is our first entry. We hope you'll visit often!
Dr. Mark Roby, N.D. is a miracle survivor of a rare form of liver cancer, co-founder of The Detroit Center for Attitudinal Healing, an integrative medicine cancer coach and speaker, and compassionate human being. We have the honor of welcoming him to The Emerald Heart Advisory Board, and with his guidance have set up our Blog. Below, the most recent entry from his blog. Please visit him online at
http://www.cancercoachdrmark.com/ (we don't know why this link doesn't work and may be switching blog programs shortly).
Thanks much, Dr. Mark. May you be blessed with healing Light!
--Sue
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Dear Fellow Seekers,
In the Winter of 2002, I collapsed after a three mile run. I woke up the next morning in a medical center and was told that I had cancer all over my liver. One week later my physicians told me that I had one of the rarest sarcomas in the world. After visiting a myriad of cancer centers around the country, the prognosis was the same, "NO HOPE OF SURVIVAL".
Today I am still standing healthy and doling out hope to others. Please take my hand and together we will help others continue their journey through the circle of life. God working through thousands of individuals has performed many miracles during my survival.
When all the odds are all stacked against you, continue to say:
"It's possible."
"There is a way."
"Never give up."
( God is in Everything I See ) - A Course In Miracles
There is a scene in the movie " The Twin Towers " (part of the Lord in The Rings Trilogy ), that every cancer patient needs to examine. In the movie, the majority of middle earth has been taken over by Saramon ( The evil one ). Gandolf the wizard and Aragon have rescued King Theoden from Saramons evil spell and are trying to warn him of impending doom to him and his people. The King is stubborn and suggests that he and his countrymen can fight this battle on their own. In the castle, Aragon pleads with him many times and begs the king to send out riders to bring reinforcements in from surrounding lands. Again and again, the king stubbornly refuses and lets his ego put him and his kingdom in grave danger.
After I recovered from the shock of my rare diagnosis, I realized that I was the one that would have spearhead my journey of survival. Everywhere I had gone in the midwest, I was given the same two words, " No hope ". Moreover when I went to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the reponse was the same. I even recall a conversation thst I had at a major cancer center in the midwest,after my return from Houston. The chemo was not working and my scans were getting worse. I asked the oncologist, could he please help me to find an agent that could help slow down the sarcoma. He looked at me and said........" Mark, what are you doing here? We just saw you 8 weeks ago". I said to him..." Doctor...I need your help. Im dying and want to live. Please help me. Is there a chemo. or agent that could stave this off or keep it at Bay? ". He looked at me and seemed upset. "Im wondering why you keep coming back" he said. "There is nothing more we can do, we told you that last time".
This physician seemed actually perplexed as to why I returned. His affect seemed depressed and angry.This conversation took place at one of the most well known major cancer centers in the midwest. This is a center at which they had seen a significant amount of sarcoma patients and did research. I walked away very sullen and in shock. I could not believe what I had just heard.
Cancer is a very formidable, intelligent opponent. It is a very complicated, sophisticated disease. Oftentimes, the most brillant medical, scientific minds in the workd cannot impede it's progression. Cancer cells and tumors can adapt and change at will. One of the biggest mistakes that a patient with and advanced or rare tumor can make is to assume that one oncolocist can lead them to safety. The majority of cancer patients I have talked to over the past 30 years have no idea what they are up against. The large majority of oncologists that I went to for help (over 25) told me in various ways that they did not know what to do with me. Some were nice about it, others were downright rude. Buiding your own survival team is Imperative if you are facing a rare or advanced cancer.
Lead Researcher
Cancer therapies and strategies are changing at a rapid pace. I feel personally that it is important to mount a three pronged attack when one hears that word," cancer". In order to survive, it's essential that you (the cancer patient), or someone you trust, take the lead and start gaining some expertise in understanding your diagnosis. The large majority of cancer patients and their families do not do this. The biggest mistake you can make, is to assume that your clinician or oncologist will understand everything that it will take to keep you alive. They may do their best, but you cannot make that assumption.
Most of the clinicians I spoke to, told me to eat anything I wanted to , to gain weight. They also told me to stay away from all natural medicines and supplements. They literally said that my natural protocols would increase my demise. When I walked out of these cancer centers, I did just the opposite. I stuck to my alkaline diet, my enemas, and my natural supplements that I carefully had researched.
The majority of chemotherapy offices across the United States that I visited were offering myself snd other patients a large array of soda pop, candy, sweets, and salted snacks that had a multitude of preservatives in them. They were also offering patients a supplement called, Boost, which has a very high sugar content. These type of foods are typical of the western diet, whick has been associated with inflammation. It would behoove clinicians to think twice before they advise patients to eat anything they want. There are many studies to back me up., including the ones published by the Life Extention Foundation and The New york Times. I have found that it's best to combine both conventional and holistic approaches to improve survival rates. Both sides need to understand the tremendous amount of lives that can be saved , combining these two sciences. My survival is proof of this. There are a number of providers in each state to help you do this.
Studies have shown that patients who are assertive and proactive have much better survival outcomes than those who don't. It's important for you or your lead researcher to gain knowledge concerning these topics:
* Tumor grade (Histologic grade)
* Staging system (which grade and why)
* Pathology report
* Five year survival stats and prognosis
* Clinical studies and trials
* Stem cell research
* Radiation Therapies
* Interventional Radiology options
* Targeted therapy options
* Cutting edge surgical options
* Genotyping
Holistic Theraputic Options
* Anti-Cancer/Alkaline Diet
* Herbal Adjuncts
* Vitamin Therapies
* Alkaline Water
* Intravenous vitamin therapies (in between chemo sessions)
* Guided Imagery
* Prayer and meditation
Cancer Patients Listen:
Each week, I listen to and talk with fellow survivors and individuals who are fighting for their very lives. Thousands and thousands of people I did not know came to my aid when I called out for help. God sent me armies of angels and people who gave me guidance and support when I was about to go over the cliff. I have seen Miracle upon Miracle since my diagnosis. Please don't give up. There is a way through this dark cavern. Take God's hand and he will lead you to safety.
