00:01It's the Andy Summers Show.
00:03We like to give you a cup of joy, add some sunshine to your life,
00:07even if you're not getting it, I don't know, through your window.
00:12So I, you guys, yesterday I met my oncologist for the first time.
00:17This is exciting.
00:18So I have an oncologist because about a month ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
00:25And this has been quite a journey so far.
00:28It's been emotional.
00:30Um, it, especially because it's just a crazy time of life for my family.
00:36We just finished a home renovation and are moving all of our things back in our house.
00:41Both kids just had graduations last week or two weeks ago, whenever it was two weeks ago.
00:47I've completely lost track of time because I'm trying to fit all of my regular life things in
00:52with all of my doctor's appointments.
00:54And there are plenty.
00:56Oh my gosh.
00:57All the scans, the MRIs, the CAT scans, the ultrasounds, the biopsies, the PET scans.
01:03Like it's so much.
01:05Plus meeting all of my doctors, right?
01:08Because I have a breast surgeon and I also have, um, an oncologist and I have a plastic
01:15surgeon.
01:16So it's just, it's been a lot.
01:18Like it's really been a lot.
01:19And you can follow my journey.
01:20Um, if you visit the Andy summer show.com, um, everything is posted up there.
01:26I've been doing kind of a weekly blog, just letting you know what's been going through
01:31my mind.
01:31And I think it's been pretty cathartic for a lot of people who have a harder time kind
01:36of voicing their feelings about stuff that they're going through in their own lives.
01:40So, um, I appreciate everybody for taking this journey with me.
01:42So let's get back to my oncologist who I met yesterday, um, who is fabulous.
01:47Her name is Dr. Nolman and I love her.
01:49Can you, uh, tell me exactly what an oncologist specializes in?
01:54Cancer.
01:55Just cancer.
01:56Okay.
01:56I wasn't sure if it was like a certain specific type.
01:59Yeah.
01:59So I think that's just the general term for a cancer doctor.
02:02Um, Dr. Nolman came highly recommended to me because she, um, specializes in breast
02:08cancer.
02:08Okay.
02:09So she was wonderful.
02:12And, um, you know, she said, first of all, what are your questions for me?
02:18And everybody that I've spoken to has been very forthcoming and patient and explain things
02:23at a very elementary level for my husband and myself when we go to these meetings, because
02:28of course I'm not schooled in this.
02:30Like I never had any interest in learning about the things that I know so much about
02:35right now.
02:36Exactly.
02:37Um, so I feel like I'm being schooled every day, which is great.
02:40But my big thing was most recently I had an ultrasound and, um, and a biopsy on my lymph
02:47node and then also an FES PET scan.
02:50So I remember when my mom had cancer, she had a PET scan done and that was, it's like a
02:55full
02:55body scan and they're able to sense these areas that are suspicious for having cancer.
03:03Wow.
03:04Wow.
03:04Um, and it's, it's a much more precise test than an MRI or a CAT scan.
03:11And she actually even showed me.
03:13So Dr.
03:13Nolan was able to show me on the screens, like, here's what your MRI looked like, which is
03:19why we went and had the ultrasound done and then the biopsy on my lymph node, because you
03:24can see that my lymph nodes were glowing in the MRI, which then just means it's suspicious.
03:31Yeah.
03:31Um, when they're a little swollen, especially where they know that there already is cancer.
03:35So had that done, everything came back negative, which is great.
03:39Awesome.
03:39And then I had the PET scan and I was like, no one's called me about the PET scan yet.
03:43So I'm curious about this.
03:45And she looked at it and she's showing me all the things that were very difficult to understand,
03:51but she did a great job of explaining it.
03:54And, um, and the PET scan shows that there is cancer nowhere else in my body except in one
04:01breast.
04:02And yeah, we're removing it.
04:04So, I mean, it's such great news.
04:06That is huge.
04:07She was like, these are the things that you take away from this meeting.
04:10She said, right?
04:11Like, these are the things that you take away is that it is treatable and it is curable.
04:17And I am overwhelmed with joy.
04:19That's amazing, Andy.
04:21Yeah.
04:22That's probably the best cup of joy we've ever had.
04:24I know.
04:24I know.
04:25I'm like, woo!
04:26Yeah.
04:26Let's go.
04:33Let's go.
Comments