This episode of Rubin On Point dives deep into what it truly means to live — with all the laughter, guilty pleasures, heartbreak, fear, and fierce personal choice that come along with it.
Dr. Dan Rubin sits down with Lisa as she shares her extraordinary journey through stage IV colon cancer — navigating it not by the book, but by her own intuition and grit. Fiercely defying conventional expectations of “health,” she continues to savor her cigarettes and wine, embracing life on her own terms.
From her first shocking diagnosis through multiple recurrences, bold surgeries, and refusing conventional paths, Lisa offers a perspective that’s all about self-advocacy, boundaries, joy, and unapologetic authenticity.
These days, Lisa is passionate about helping others reclaim their power in the face of illness. She’s an outspoken advocate for exploring all available treatment options — not just the ones you're handed.
After seeing how often people are told “no” or never even given the chance to consult with other specialists like surgeons or radiation oncologists, she’s made it her mission to remind people they can—and should—ask more questions, seek second opinions, and push back when the system offers only one narrow path.
Her message is clear: never take a back seat in your care.
Together they explore:
00:00 — Laughing through life’s heaviest topics
02:47 — The family tragedy that started it all
06:02 — A life-changing ultrasound & stage IV diagnosis
09:32 — Saying no to chemo & finding her own path
12:57 — Advocating for surgery against the odds
17:36 — Recovery, resilience, and refusing to dim her light
25:10 — Recurrences, stress, and shifting from “fight” to acceptance
39:38 — Embracing cancer as part of her life
40:28 — The lifestyle she never gave up — and why
49:42 — A stunning PET scan & new perspective on fear
52:06 — Finding meaning, Anita Moorjani, and preparing for what’s next
