Cancer and Discovering My Life’s Purpose
My name is Mark Kageyama, and in late 2020, out of the blue, I began having problems walking, because my right leg began tightening up, which led to me not being able to walk in October of 2020. At that time, I realized that there was something seriously wrong, and as a result, I began doing a deep dive to try to find out what was really going on with my health. After doing one invasive test, after inhumane test, my Oncologist called my wife and I in to give me a diagnosis. She proceeded to say, “Your cancer is so bad that I cannot cure you. You have stage 4 prostate, bone, and lung cancer”.
At that point, it was kind of a relief to know what I was dealing with. It was like a starting gun was going off in my head, telling me that it was time to start on the road to save my life! There was NO WAY, that I was going to die, because there were too many people (my wife, two daughters, family and friends) that I love so dearly, that I had to be there for. I was convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I was going to be around for a good period of time….that I was going to live!
In late March of 2021, I had a lung biopsy which was botched, and my lung collapsed, which put me in the hospital for a week. This was a very pivotal time in my journey for a number of reasons. Up until this time, I had been a vegan for 10 years, and I thought that I was healthy. Fortunately, a good friend of mine, a nutritionist, told me…”Unless you change your diet, and add animal protein (organic chicken and beef, and wild salmon), I don’t think you will be around very long, because your life depends on this.” I took what he said to heart, and completely changed my diet, and followed the diet that he gave me. At that time was very weak and weighed only 123 pounds. Turns out he was right! The diet did help save my life! Today, I weigh 161 pounds, and exercise daily.
While I was in the hospital, I decided to start my Youtube channel called 2byourownhero, which I use to chronicle my cancer journey, as well as to inspire people to appreciate their beautiful lives, as well as their health. Today, I also interview cancer patients and survivors who have an inspirational story that people can learn from. Here is a link to one of the videos:
In addition, along with my friend Katie Gasparri, we started a room on the Clubhouse app called Cancer Conquering Community on Thursdays at 12:00 pm EST. Here is a link to the room:
I am so happy to know the many cancer patients, survivors, as well as inspirational people who have helped me get to where I am today. I still have a ways to go, but at this point, I have great confidence that I will be around, God willing, for a good period of time. I am so thankful to all of the people who have helped me in my journey, especially my wife Beth, my daughter Lisa, who stayed with me for 2.5 months, and really helped me in so many ways, and my daughter Tani, who is there for me everyday, my mother, and my sister Julie amongst others. I would also like to thank all of the concerned friends, as well as people I have met on this journey.
I wouldn’t wish cancer on anyone, but for me. It has helped me find my true purpose in life, and I am so incredibly thankful for every morning that I am blessed to open my eyes to experience a new day! Life is so amazing, and as crazy as it seems, cancer has changed my life for the better, and has helped me see what is really important in life. We are all going to die, and nobody can take their “stuff” with them. So what is really important? I think it is the people we can help and influence in a positive way!
Our world today is so confusing, divisive, as well as crazy. My mission is to help inspire people to come together and spread positivity to help this world heal and to help make this world a better place! Come join me to help make this world a better place, by sharing love, gratitude, and respect for our fellow man. If it is to be, it is up to all of us!