How a brain tumor changed Simone Giertz's outlook on life | Lex Fridman Podcast Clips | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Simone shares her experience of discovering a brain tumor after giving a TED talk and the subsequent surgeries and radiation treatments she went through.

Key Insights

• 🙃 Discovering a brain tumor after giving a TED talk turned Simone's life upside down, leading to surgeries and radiation treatments.
• 🧠 The recovery process from brain surgery was relatively smooth for Simone, with no brain injuries and gradual improvement each week.
• 💭 Radiation treatment was more challenging and affected Simone's perception of reality, causing her to feel high and struggle to process thoughts.
• 🤝 Trusting doctors and being afraid to question their decisions is a common experience for patients dealing with serious illnesses.
• 😨 Simone's illness changed her relationship with death, making her more connected to her mortality and emphasizing the importance of taking care of her body.
• 🤪 Going through illness taught Simone the value of being gentle with herself and others, and appreciating the resilience of the human body.
• ❓ Despite the challenges, Simone felt grateful for the energy and resilience her body exhibited during her illness.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How did Simone find out about her brain tumor?

Simone found out about her brain tumor after her right eyelid was swollen, which led to a scan and subsequent diagnosis.

Q: How did the surgery to remove the tumor affect Simone?

After the surgery, Simone felt like herself and experienced no brain injuries. Her brain even reshaped itself, giving her a near-normal appearance.

Q: Did Simone research the risks of brain surgery?

Simone admitted to not researching the risks and putting trust in her doctors. She was afraid to question them and sought a single, definitive solution.

Q: How did her illness change Simone's perspective on life and wellness?

Her illness made Simone more gentle with herself and others, emphasizing the importance of listening to her body and taking care of her health.

Q: How did the recovery process differ between surgery and radiation treatment?

The recovery from surgery was linear, with gradual improvement each week. However, radiation treatment was unpredictable and affected Simone's perception of reality.

Q: Did Simone fear death during her illness?

The experience of facing a brain tumor made Simone confront her mortality and took away a part of her innocence. She became more aware of ailments and death as part of life.

Q: How did Simone's illness affect her plans for the future?

Simone was saddened by the fact that she hadn't had children yet and felt that her illness disrupted her plans for the future.

Q: Did Simone feel fear during her illness and treatments?

Simone admitted to feeling scared throughout the experience, particularly during the prospect of brain surgery. However, it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Simone discovered she had a brain tumor after her right eyelid was swollen, which she initially dismissed as allergies.

• She underwent surgery to remove the tumor but it kept growing, leading to radiation treatments.

• The recovery process from surgery was linear, while radiation treatment was unpredictable and affected her perception of reality.