In this episode, Project Purple Founder and CEO Dino Verrelli sits down with author and pancreatic cancer survivor Mark Scarbrough. After an ER visit for a suspected heart attack, Mark was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage 1 colloid pancreatic cancer: an incredibly rare form of the disease.
Mark opens up about the complex decisions surrounding his treatment, including why he chose a traditional open Whipple procedure over a robotic approach so his surgeon could see everything. He details his choice to endure 12 grueling rounds of chemotherapy, despite receiving conflicting advice from world-renowned oncologists and tumor boards. Along the way, Mark highlights the importance of advocating for your own care and building a personal connection with your medical team.
As the author of 37 cookbooks, Mark candidly discusses the irony of battling a digestive cancer and surviving the brutal side effects of treatment to reach what he calls his “Debra Winger moment” of absolute exhaustion.
Finally, he shares a poignant writer’s metaphor defining the disease as a “stripped screw,” and explains the profound anxiety of finishing treatment, emphasizing why it is crucial to sit with your emotions rather than rushing to move on.
You can connect with Mark and follow his journey through his Instagram and other social media accounts: https://www.instagram.com/markscarbrough/
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