October 30, 2025 • 18 mins
Twelve years ago today, Amy Robach got news that she had stage-2 breast cancer. Today started with candles, a toast, reflection, and a reminder.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hey, it is Thursday, October thirtieth, twenty twenty five, and
we had damn good reason to pop open a bottle
of champagne at four am as we were starting our
work day. And with that, welcome to this very special
cancer Versary episode of Amy and TJ.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Amy Robot. Please tell the folks what is a cancer versary?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
First of all, well, it's the day that cancer patients,
survivors thrivers celebrate their anniversary of surviving. And so I
actually had a question early on because a lot of
folks choose different dates for their cancerversary. Some people pick
the day they finished chemo, some people picked the day
(00:48):
they finished their surgeries or their treatment, and some people
picked the day they were diagnosed. And I went with
that way forward because someone said this to me, a
survivor said this to me. I chose the day I
was diagnosed because that's the day I started surviving.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
And what day did you pick?
Speaker 4 (01:08):
October thirtieth? The day I was diagnosed.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
The day you were diagnosed was October thirtieth, this day
twelve years ago? Is that right?
Speaker 4 (01:16):
That's correct?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Happy Canniverse cancer versary, baby.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
It's one of those days where, yeah, it's impossible not
to get emotional.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Are you supposed to? Is it offensive? How should people
note or take or recognize the day to you? Because
it seems weird to say happy happy cancer version right?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
No, I actually really believe that it's important to celebrate.
It's important as a moment to recognize how precious time is,
how amazing it is that we're all here still one
more day, one more minute, one more hour.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
You have to know that. Though does it matter? Do
you have? Can? Can the day come and go without
excuse me? You can note it in your own mind,
but does it need to be to you appreciate people
taking note of it? Almost like a birthday. I know
that's a weird comparison, but some people don't like birthday.
I don't want all its attention and no, and I
don't want to pick where we're going and that kind
of shit. Do you think?
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I think have to's and expectations are problematic period, so
I wouldn't expect anyone else to. However, I have been
a believer in honoring, in noting, in acknowledging certain anniversaries
because I do think they do serve as a very
important reminder for us to remember what's important to appreciate,
(02:35):
to be grateful, and to spread the love. And I
think at that point it's on me to recognize it.
It's on me to recognize how to be living differently
and better.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
But how is the day different from any other in
that what you just said, is it? You said a reminder?
But at the same time we get reminders from We
were just talking about Tony Todd in the Last Final
Destination movie. He he gave us a reminder with come
of lines that life is precious and we have to
live every day. Sometimes we have a family member, somebody,
a friend, or somebody close to us that's passed unexpectedly,
(03:08):
and we always say it's a reminder. But for a
cancer survivor, you still need sometimes these reminds. I'm sure
you are more aware than most people are of your mortality,
if you will, But still is it even for you?
Sometimes you find yourself needing reminders more than even you
(03:28):
think you should need.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, I think we all and I think as more
time goes by, which is a beautiful thing.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
I used to think about cancer every minute of every day.
Then it became, you know, a couple times a day,
then it solely became a couple of times a week,
and now I can go weeks without thinking about cancer,
and that's a beautiful thing. No one wants to be
dwelling on or in this like disease. However, there is
(04:02):
a really positive point when you can have that moment
where it comes back to you like wait a minute,
When things are going bad, or things are going wrong,
or you're getting frustrated by little stupid, silly stuff that
you won't remember in five days, let alone five years.
Those are the moments where're like, wait a minute, like
perspective here, it's all going to be okay.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Put on perspective there, You're you're not I guess you
kind of change, change or train yourself. You're not in
that moment thinking about cancer, but you're in that moment
still thinking. Your mind is trained differently. Is that Is
that fair to say you're not just thinking cancer.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
No, I'm thinking gratitude.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I'm thinking I'm thinking especially like honestly, baby, if you
and I and we haven't had a lot of this lately,
which has been awesome, but if you and I are
having a rough spot or a rough patch, or I
actually get frustrated with myself for not finding a way
to peace sooner, because I'm just like, we don't have
six hours, we don't have six days. We don't know
(05:03):
why am I wasting time being pissed off about something
that actually doesn't even matter.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
It's my ego, it's my pride, it's.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Whatever, And so yes, I use those moments to remind
myself of how precious time is. That is the biggest reminder,
I think, And to remember to love people, to laugh more,
to live more, to love more. Those are the things
that hit my brain. It's not cancer, it's it's you
(05:31):
have right now.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
But that's all a matter of you being trained, I
guess the past twelve years to see life differently and
recognize life differently. But when did it happen? I know
you won't know what exactly, Maybe you will. When did
that transition kind of start to where it's not cancer, cancer, cancer,
cancer cancer, but just a matter of looking at life
as a more beautiful thing.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
It definitely when the fear subsided, and the fear didn't
subside I think for a solid two years from my diagnosis,
so it it took a full two years for me
to just not be actually living in fear and then
(06:12):
oh yeah, I mean I was well, and I'm not
saying I didn't have moments of fear just come washing
over me unexpectedly in certain moments, but the day to
day fear started to subside after that period. And then
it really it was baby steps and it was conditioning,
and it was taking that fear and trying to flip
(06:33):
it on its head and say it's powerful.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Right when you are afraid, there.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Is There aren't a lot of emotions that are more
powerful than fear. And so when I could take it
and say, okay, i'm feeling this now, I'm going to
go do something fun, I'm going to go do something meaningful.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
I'm going to go do something impactful.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
And so when I start to feel that anxiety, which
it still does pop up, I don't.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Think it ever goes away. Fully, it doesn't.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
It hasn't for me yet, and honestly, I kind of
hope it doesn't, because it's become motivating to live differently,
to make different choices, to make better choices in moments
where more other fears come up, and I'm just like,
wait a minute, I know how to do this. I'm
going to take this and I'm going to use this
for good.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
When did you start making cancer jokes?
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Throughout?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Like, oh yeah, when I was going through chemo, I
was making cancer jokes because you just had to.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
It was so miserable.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
And even the girls were younger, they were seven and
ten when all of this was happening, and they we
would actually joke about it in moments.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
Of like stupid, like every day stress, we would make
a joke about how ridiculous it was.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Well for you in the milestone moments you talk about
cancer versary. What are the other dates on the yearly
calendar that are anniversaries if you will?
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Yeah, well, October thirtieth was the day I was diagnosed.
December sixteenth was my first day of chemo. April twenty
fourth was my last day of chemo. I mean you
really remember these dates. I don't think they ever go away.
And those are like my main ones, because chemo is
one of those things where it is an event and
it does take away a lot from you throughout that moment,
(08:13):
and I am very proud of going through that, having
gone through that, and I do like laugh and look
back at how much pride I took in not taking
any days off. Yes, I took days off from my
double mistectomy. I took I believe two weeks off and
that was it. And then I never missed another day
of work. And I look back at that and I
laugh at the pride I took in that. Why, like
(08:35):
I invested all this time in a job that I
thought defined me. That was my value and it's part
of the reason why. And I think it's important to
have something to focus on other than being a cancer
patient in those moments when you're in treatment. However, the
emphasis I had was on making sure I showed up
for work every day. And I look back at now
(08:58):
the last couple of years and laugh at my devotion
and my loyalty to a job that actually gave nothing
in return.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
But I mean another way possibly looking at it, is
that was a very much a positive. It kept you focused,
It kept you driven, It kept you you had a
goal and something to deal with pressurize even not just
like doing a crossword puzzle. You had a real purpose
and focus in life. Is there not some argument that
even some doctor would make that that was good for you.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yes, And even to that point, my doctor at the time,
doctor Oratz who you've met multiple times.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
I had this focus.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
The first meeting I had with my oncologist, the first
thing I said to her was how can I still
go and cover the Olympics in Pyeongchang in South Korea.
I had already signed up for it, I was already
accredited for it, and I wanted to go.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
That was where my head was. I needed to have.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Some goal other than ringing the bell, some goal other
than getting through chemo. I needed to shift my focus.
And so yes, in that sense, it was a blessing. However,
upon further reflection, looking back now, I am now able
to proudly say that my work, and it's with someone
(10:08):
I love now in a different way, in a different place,
in a different atmosphere, is integal to my life, but
doesn't define me in a way that it did back then.
And I understand that I needed that maybe that distraction.
But I have a better focus now on what's important.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Yeah, but that's I don't know. I don't know if
it's possible to get to that perspective before you have
a life altering and a literally a life threatening situation
come up. That's always the challenge, right You're trying to
get to that perspective before it's forced upon you. You are.
I mean, I guess I get it to a certain degree.
(10:49):
I don't know. I don't know if it's a bad thing,
and looking back on it, if your perspective was wrong,
I think a lot of people would be that way.
Think that way. You have a career, you have a family,
and look, I think this industry probably, I think the
industry puts you in that position as well. Where you
were at the time. I know you still had a
little climbing to do as far as the industry goes.
(11:11):
But we take one day off and we think the
person that gets to fill in for us is going
to end up taking our job. It's just been this
kind of competitive business forever. So I don't know if
you would have been in a different industry had you
had the same attitude. I don't know if you would have,
if you'd had the right support that you should have
(11:33):
had at the time, if you would have had that
same attitude. But here we are. It all worked out.
And the reason I know it worked out is because
I'm sitting across the table from you right now, happy
and healthy and life is great. So it worked out.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
It absolutely did, and it was funny to think that
in the middle of all of that. So I remember
after round five of chemo, my on collegist told me,
you know, you're going to have to I know you
haven't taken any breaks from work, but you're going to
have to start taking a break because when I came
back from the Olympics, we upped the chemo to every
other week, and so she was like, there's no way
(12:09):
you're going to be able to keep continuing with this
five day week schedule. That is when I got the
phone call from then ABC president Ben Suurrwood saying, You've
now been given the Monday through Friday news anchor job.
And I knew at that moment that, of course I
was not going to take another day off. So I
thought my career was taking a huge shift upwards right
(12:31):
when I was taking a huge shift downwards in my
energy level and my treatment, and the two coincided, and
you know, you do what you have to do. You
rise up to that point and you meet the expectations
that are in front of you. And maybe that was
exactly what needed to happen at what I thought was
the worst possible time, but it gave me. It gave
(12:52):
me an outlet. It gave me something to do other
than being a cancer patient, and for that I'm grateful.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Well, folks, we are absolutely grateful for today. I think
a lot of you will know. We get up really
really early, really really early to get our work done.
But today our work day started a little differently. Stay here,
I'll explain to you exactly what happened when Robes rolled
out of bed on her cancer versary this morning. Hey,
(13:25):
the folks, welcome back to this very special cancer versary
episode of Amy and TJ. Twelve years ago today, Amy
Robock found out that she had stage two two breast cancer.
And here we are, twelve years later, cancer free, doing
a thing, rocking, rolling. She's got a great career going.
(13:46):
She has a great, great coworker that she gets to
spend her time with every single day.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
She's also my fiance. Now, okay, we'll trying to keep
it before we very often.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
I have a lot because anything to keep from saying
girlfriend again, I.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Actually want to lean towards a husband. It's so funny.
I'm like fiance, I'm fifty two years.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Lean away from the girl friend. Beyonce, Yes, well you
had a boyfriend it's better than a boyfriend. Oh yeah,
so you're getting there. But folks today, well especially we
tell you all all the time. We get very early
around here, between three or four o'clock in the morning.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
And.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Well, Robes, I will let you tell it. I had
a whole plan and whole thing in mind about what
the day was going to look like. And we have
much more the day to go. But I wanted to
make sure when you walked out, you knew well you were,
you were aware that I was aware.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
I would say, very sweet. I walked out, and.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
I walk out at about four ten, because my alarm
goes off at four. I go into the Yeah, I
just get myself somewhat put together and walk out and
you've got candles lit. It's pitch black, and you've got
the glow of the computer on your face.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Because you've been up for an hour. You usually get
up an hour before I do.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
And there were two glasses of champagne at the table,
and that was you're not And you said to me,
you're alive, and I knew, I knew you knew.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
It was very sweet.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Almost other days I say you're alive and it means
something different, meaning he finally woke up. There it is.
But yeah, today is different, and especially and it's cloudy
and it's overcast day. It's gonna be raining today, and
that feels like just life. It feels like, I don't know.
Today feels great and we're upbeat and we're happy, and
(15:38):
we have a lot to look forward to. We have
great trips coming, we have great family trips coming, have
very great family events coming. It's just a great, great
time for us, and we're sharing a little bit of
it now. We try to keep rogues. We're trying to
keep to ourselves. To the most part, we're trying to
just enjoy we're public people who trying to enjoy some privacy.
(16:01):
To a certain degree, we are. We still have the
attitude nobody gives a damn about our relationship, and we
made that mistake and it cost us before. So we're
trying to find that balance. But this is something I
think rogues is worthy for a lot of people out
there who have their own cancer versaries to see how
other people are treating it, dealing with it, and even
(16:21):
for family members or friends or spouses or partners of
those people just because they're telling you out it's just
another day. Don't think for a second that it doesn't
matter that you acknowledge that how important this day is
to the person in your life who had to go
through cancer. Everybody needs to take note of this day,
this day, not because it's your day. I'm saying, take
(16:43):
note of a cancer verse.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
I know I got emotional when you were saying that
upbeat no, because I do want to say this.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Look, I have been offended and upset in moments, and
everyone's in different places in their life. But anyone who
complains about getting older or about another birthday, it has
always been upsetting to me since my cancer diagnosis. I
was one of those people beforehand. But every day, every
(17:14):
year is absolutely a gift.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
And if you can try to find.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
That attitude, it's a game changer because instead of saying,
oh I'm older, Oh look at this wrinkle, Oh you
know my body isn't doing what it used to be
able to do. All that may be true, but it
beats the alternative. And anyone who has faced this disease,
who's loved somebody who's faced this disease, understands how important
(17:41):
time is and how precious that gift is.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
And so that's what today is for me.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
It's a reminder to embrace whatever this day brings, whether
it's rain and wind and the weather you didn't want
or the weather you love. Whatever it is, you're here,
you're a lie, You're able to react, you're able to give,
you're able to love, you're able to receive. So I
(18:06):
just yeah, today's a beautiful day and another important reminder
of the fact that we're all just lucky to be
here and grateful to be here.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Hopefully, well, we are lucky, we are grateful, we are blessed. Yesterday,
but tomorrow yesterday as well well. Happy cancerversary, baby. We
got some partying to do, but we want to hop
on and acknowledge what today is and if you've got
that person in your life. Several of the cancer versaries today, tomorrow,
(18:39):
this month, next month, and so on. But it's always
worth noting folks, so we appreciate you. It's always going
along on this journey with us. But for now I'm TJ.
Holmes along with my still thriving fiance Amy Robot. We'll
talk to you also
Hey, it is Thursday, October thirtieth, twenty twenty five, and
we had damn good reason to pop open a bottle
of champagne at four am as we were starting our
work day. And with that, welcome to this very special
cancer Versary episode of Amy and TJ.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Amy Robot. Please tell the folks what is a cancer versary?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
First of all, well, it's the day that cancer patients,
survivors thrivers celebrate their anniversary of surviving. And so I
actually had a question early on because a lot of
folks choose different dates for their cancerversary. Some people pick
the day they finished chemo, some people picked the day
(00:48):
they finished their surgeries or their treatment, and some people
picked the day they were diagnosed. And I went with
that way forward because someone said this to me, a
survivor said this to me. I chose the day I
was diagnosed because that's the day I started surviving.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
And what day did you pick?
Speaker 4 (01:08):
October thirtieth? The day I was diagnosed.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
The day you were diagnosed was October thirtieth, this day
twelve years ago? Is that right?
Speaker 4 (01:16):
That's correct?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Happy Canniverse cancer versary, baby.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
It's one of those days where, yeah, it's impossible not
to get emotional.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Are you supposed to? Is it offensive? How should people
note or take or recognize the day to you? Because
it seems weird to say happy happy cancer version right?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
No, I actually really believe that it's important to celebrate.
It's important as a moment to recognize how precious time is,
how amazing it is that we're all here still one
more day, one more minute, one more hour.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
You have to know that. Though does it matter? Do
you have? Can? Can the day come and go without
excuse me? You can note it in your own mind,
but does it need to be to you appreciate people
taking note of it? Almost like a birthday. I know
that's a weird comparison, but some people don't like birthday.
I don't want all its attention and no, and I
don't want to pick where we're going and that kind
of shit. Do you think?
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I think have to's and expectations are problematic period, so
I wouldn't expect anyone else to. However, I have been
a believer in honoring, in noting, in acknowledging certain anniversaries
because I do think they do serve as a very
important reminder for us to remember what's important to appreciate,
(02:35):
to be grateful, and to spread the love. And I
think at that point it's on me to recognize it.
It's on me to recognize how to be living differently
and better.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
But how is the day different from any other in
that what you just said, is it? You said a reminder?
But at the same time we get reminders from We
were just talking about Tony Todd in the Last Final
Destination movie. He he gave us a reminder with come
of lines that life is precious and we have to
live every day. Sometimes we have a family member, somebody,
a friend, or somebody close to us that's passed unexpectedly,
(03:08):
and we always say it's a reminder. But for a
cancer survivor, you still need sometimes these reminds. I'm sure
you are more aware than most people are of your mortality,
if you will, But still is it even for you?
Sometimes you find yourself needing reminders more than even you
(03:28):
think you should need.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, I think we all and I think as more
time goes by, which is a beautiful thing.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
I used to think about cancer every minute of every day.
Then it became, you know, a couple times a day,
then it solely became a couple of times a week,
and now I can go weeks without thinking about cancer,
and that's a beautiful thing. No one wants to be
dwelling on or in this like disease. However, there is
(04:02):
a really positive point when you can have that moment
where it comes back to you like wait a minute,
When things are going bad, or things are going wrong,
or you're getting frustrated by little stupid, silly stuff that
you won't remember in five days, let alone five years.
Those are the moments where're like, wait a minute, like
perspective here, it's all going to be okay.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Put on perspective there, You're you're not I guess you
kind of change, change or train yourself. You're not in
that moment thinking about cancer, but you're in that moment
still thinking. Your mind is trained differently. Is that Is
that fair to say you're not just thinking cancer.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
No, I'm thinking gratitude.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
I'm thinking I'm thinking especially like honestly, baby, if you
and I and we haven't had a lot of this lately,
which has been awesome, but if you and I are
having a rough spot or a rough patch, or I
actually get frustrated with myself for not finding a way
to peace sooner, because I'm just like, we don't have
six hours, we don't have six days. We don't know
(05:03):
why am I wasting time being pissed off about something
that actually doesn't even matter.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
It's my ego, it's my pride, it's.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Whatever, And so yes, I use those moments to remind
myself of how precious time is. That is the biggest reminder,
I think, And to remember to love people, to laugh more,
to live more, to love more. Those are the things
that hit my brain. It's not cancer, it's it's you
(05:31):
have right now.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
But that's all a matter of you being trained, I
guess the past twelve years to see life differently and
recognize life differently. But when did it happen? I know
you won't know what exactly, Maybe you will. When did
that transition kind of start to where it's not cancer, cancer, cancer,
cancer cancer, but just a matter of looking at life
as a more beautiful thing.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
It definitely when the fear subsided, and the fear didn't
subside I think for a solid two years from my diagnosis,
so it it took a full two years for me
to just not be actually living in fear and then
(06:12):
oh yeah, I mean I was well, and I'm not
saying I didn't have moments of fear just come washing
over me unexpectedly in certain moments, but the day to
day fear started to subside after that period. And then
it really it was baby steps and it was conditioning,
and it was taking that fear and trying to flip
(06:33):
it on its head and say it's powerful.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Right when you are afraid, there.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Is There aren't a lot of emotions that are more
powerful than fear. And so when I could take it
and say, okay, i'm feeling this now, I'm going to
go do something fun, I'm going to go do something meaningful.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
I'm going to go do something impactful.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
And so when I start to feel that anxiety, which
it still does pop up, I don't.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Think it ever goes away. Fully, it doesn't.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
It hasn't for me yet, and honestly, I kind of
hope it doesn't, because it's become motivating to live differently,
to make different choices, to make better choices in moments
where more other fears come up, and I'm just like,
wait a minute, I know how to do this. I'm
going to take this and I'm going to use this
for good.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
When did you start making cancer jokes?
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Throughout?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Like, oh yeah, when I was going through chemo, I
was making cancer jokes because you just had to.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
It was so miserable.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
And even the girls were younger, they were seven and
ten when all of this was happening, and they we
would actually joke about it in moments.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
Of like stupid, like every day stress, we would make
a joke about how ridiculous it was.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Well for you in the milestone moments you talk about
cancer versary. What are the other dates on the yearly
calendar that are anniversaries if you will?
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Yeah, well, October thirtieth was the day I was diagnosed.
December sixteenth was my first day of chemo. April twenty
fourth was my last day of chemo. I mean you
really remember these dates. I don't think they ever go away.
And those are like my main ones, because chemo is
one of those things where it is an event and
it does take away a lot from you throughout that moment,
(08:13):
and I am very proud of going through that, having
gone through that, and I do like laugh and look
back at how much pride I took in not taking
any days off. Yes, I took days off from my
double mistectomy. I took I believe two weeks off and
that was it. And then I never missed another day
of work. And I look back at that and I
laugh at the pride I took in that. Why, like
(08:35):
I invested all this time in a job that I
thought defined me. That was my value and it's part
of the reason why. And I think it's important to
have something to focus on other than being a cancer
patient in those moments when you're in treatment. However, the
emphasis I had was on making sure I showed up
for work every day. And I look back at now
(08:58):
the last couple of years and laugh at my devotion
and my loyalty to a job that actually gave nothing
in return.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
But I mean another way possibly looking at it, is
that was a very much a positive. It kept you focused,
It kept you driven, It kept you you had a
goal and something to deal with pressurize even not just
like doing a crossword puzzle. You had a real purpose
and focus in life. Is there not some argument that
even some doctor would make that that was good for you.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yes, And even to that point, my doctor at the time,
doctor Oratz who you've met multiple times.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
I had this focus.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
The first meeting I had with my oncologist, the first
thing I said to her was how can I still
go and cover the Olympics in Pyeongchang in South Korea.
I had already signed up for it, I was already
accredited for it, and I wanted to go.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
That was where my head was. I needed to have.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Some goal other than ringing the bell, some goal other
than getting through chemo. I needed to shift my focus.
And so yes, in that sense, it was a blessing. However,
upon further reflection, looking back now, I am now able
to proudly say that my work, and it's with someone
(10:08):
I love now in a different way, in a different place,
in a different atmosphere, is integal to my life, but
doesn't define me in a way that it did back then.
And I understand that I needed that maybe that distraction.
But I have a better focus now on what's important.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Yeah, but that's I don't know. I don't know if
it's possible to get to that perspective before you have
a life altering and a literally a life threatening situation
come up. That's always the challenge, right You're trying to
get to that perspective before it's forced upon you. You are.
I mean, I guess I get it to a certain degree.
(10:49):
I don't know. I don't know if it's a bad thing,
and looking back on it, if your perspective was wrong,
I think a lot of people would be that way.
Think that way. You have a career, you have a family,
and look, I think this industry probably, I think the
industry puts you in that position as well. Where you
were at the time. I know you still had a
little climbing to do as far as the industry goes.
(11:11):
But we take one day off and we think the
person that gets to fill in for us is going
to end up taking our job. It's just been this
kind of competitive business forever. So I don't know if
you would have been in a different industry had you
had the same attitude. I don't know if you would have,
if you'd had the right support that you should have
(11:33):
had at the time, if you would have had that
same attitude. But here we are. It all worked out.
And the reason I know it worked out is because
I'm sitting across the table from you right now, happy
and healthy and life is great. So it worked out.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
It absolutely did, and it was funny to think that
in the middle of all of that. So I remember
after round five of chemo, my on collegist told me,
you know, you're going to have to I know you
haven't taken any breaks from work, but you're going to
have to start taking a break because when I came
back from the Olympics, we upped the chemo to every
other week, and so she was like, there's no way
(12:09):
you're going to be able to keep continuing with this
five day week schedule. That is when I got the
phone call from then ABC president Ben Suurrwood saying, You've
now been given the Monday through Friday news anchor job.
And I knew at that moment that, of course I
was not going to take another day off. So I
thought my career was taking a huge shift upwards right
(12:31):
when I was taking a huge shift downwards in my
energy level and my treatment, and the two coincided, and
you know, you do what you have to do. You
rise up to that point and you meet the expectations
that are in front of you. And maybe that was
exactly what needed to happen at what I thought was
the worst possible time, but it gave me. It gave
(12:52):
me an outlet. It gave me something to do other
than being a cancer patient, and for that I'm grateful.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Well, folks, we are absolutely grateful for today. I think
a lot of you will know. We get up really
really early, really really early to get our work done.
But today our work day started a little differently. Stay here,
I'll explain to you exactly what happened when Robes rolled
out of bed on her cancer versary this morning. Hey,
(13:25):
the folks, welcome back to this very special cancer versary
episode of Amy and TJ. Twelve years ago today, Amy
Robock found out that she had stage two two breast cancer.
And here we are, twelve years later, cancer free, doing
a thing, rocking, rolling. She's got a great career going.
(13:46):
She has a great, great coworker that she gets to
spend her time with every single day.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
She's also my fiance. Now, okay, we'll trying to keep
it before we very often.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
I have a lot because anything to keep from saying
girlfriend again, I.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Actually want to lean towards a husband. It's so funny.
I'm like fiance, I'm fifty two years.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Lean away from the girl friend. Beyonce, Yes, well you
had a boyfriend it's better than a boyfriend. Oh yeah,
so you're getting there. But folks today, well especially we
tell you all all the time. We get very early
around here, between three or four o'clock in the morning.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
And.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Well, Robes, I will let you tell it. I had
a whole plan and whole thing in mind about what
the day was going to look like. And we have
much more the day to go. But I wanted to
make sure when you walked out, you knew well you were,
you were aware that I was aware.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
I would say, very sweet. I walked out, and.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
I walk out at about four ten, because my alarm
goes off at four. I go into the Yeah, I
just get myself somewhat put together and walk out and
you've got candles lit. It's pitch black, and you've got
the glow of the computer on your face.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Because you've been up for an hour. You usually get
up an hour before I do.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
And there were two glasses of champagne at the table,
and that was you're not And you said to me,
you're alive, and I knew, I knew you knew.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
It was very sweet.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Almost other days I say you're alive and it means
something different, meaning he finally woke up. There it is.
But yeah, today is different, and especially and it's cloudy
and it's overcast day. It's gonna be raining today, and
that feels like just life. It feels like, I don't know.
Today feels great and we're upbeat and we're happy, and
(15:38):
we have a lot to look forward to. We have
great trips coming, we have great family trips coming, have
very great family events coming. It's just a great, great
time for us, and we're sharing a little bit of
it now. We try to keep rogues. We're trying to
keep to ourselves. To the most part, we're trying to
just enjoy we're public people who trying to enjoy some privacy.
(16:01):
To a certain degree, we are. We still have the
attitude nobody gives a damn about our relationship, and we
made that mistake and it cost us before. So we're
trying to find that balance. But this is something I
think rogues is worthy for a lot of people out
there who have their own cancer versaries to see how
other people are treating it, dealing with it, and even
(16:21):
for family members or friends or spouses or partners of
those people just because they're telling you out it's just
another day. Don't think for a second that it doesn't
matter that you acknowledge that how important this day is
to the person in your life who had to go
through cancer. Everybody needs to take note of this day,
this day, not because it's your day. I'm saying, take
(16:43):
note of a cancer verse.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
I know I got emotional when you were saying that
upbeat no, because I do want to say this.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Look, I have been offended and upset in moments, and
everyone's in different places in their life. But anyone who
complains about getting older or about another birthday, it has
always been upsetting to me since my cancer diagnosis. I
was one of those people beforehand. But every day, every
(17:14):
year is absolutely a gift.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
And if you can try to find.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
That attitude, it's a game changer because instead of saying,
oh I'm older, Oh look at this wrinkle, Oh you
know my body isn't doing what it used to be
able to do. All that may be true, but it
beats the alternative. And anyone who has faced this disease,
who's loved somebody who's faced this disease, understands how important
(17:41):
time is and how precious that gift is.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
And so that's what today is for me.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
It's a reminder to embrace whatever this day brings, whether
it's rain and wind and the weather you didn't want
or the weather you love. Whatever it is, you're here,
you're a lie, You're able to react, you're able to give,
you're able to love, you're able to receive. So I
(18:06):
just yeah, today's a beautiful day and another important reminder
of the fact that we're all just lucky to be
here and grateful to be here.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Hopefully, well, we are lucky, we are grateful, we are blessed. Yesterday,
but tomorrow yesterday as well well. Happy cancerversary, baby. We
got some partying to do, but we want to hop
on and acknowledge what today is and if you've got
that person in your life. Several of the cancer versaries today, tomorrow,
(18:39):
this month, next month, and so on. But it's always
worth noting folks, so we appreciate you. It's always going
along on this journey with us. But for now I'm TJ.
Holmes along with my still thriving fiance Amy Robot. We'll
talk to you also
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!