It was the first time that I had experienced the disease from a personal perspective.

I can't believe we got in.

People now live and recover from it and live many, many productive years after having cancer. So often in the early years, the treatment was worse than the disease. That's really improved a lot. We've made great strides in the treatment of cancer.

It's one of the best opportunities for me to experience the care we give - I feel the care we give, not study it or analyze it. Because of that, I have a better idea of how things should be done.

To be able to conduct the symphony is a real honor. And I don't have a clue how to do it.

It is a real race for the title this year.