TL;DR
What did clemencello (Hacker News) use NotebookLM for?
A patient has AI transcribe recorded doctor conversations and keeps a Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) filled with their history, test results and articles, then asks it for a summary and recommendations at each stage of treatment. They say the approach "saved me from the default treatment options and has prompted oncologists to consider others."
What they did
They record conversations with their doctors and have AI transcribe them, which labels the speakers as "Doctor" and "Patient." They load a Gemini Notebook with their full history, all their test results, and links to articles and YouTube videos that look useful. At each stage they ask Gemini for a short summary of where things stand, with comments and recommendations, and sometimes graphs to make results stand out.
How it went
They say the approach "saved me from the default treatment options and has prompted oncologists to consider others."
Worth knowing
- This is not medical advice. The poster stresses knowing your own condition and results so you can catch mistakes. Ask before recording a visit, since rules vary by place, and bring questions to your doctors rather than acting on the summary alone. NotebookLM is now also called Gemini Notebook.
- Price check: Google Gemini: free plan; Google AI Plus: US$4.99/month (checked Nov 1, 2026).
Try it yourself
Paste this into a chatbot, then add your own details underneath.
Using only the sources in this notebook, summarize where I am with my condition: recent test results and how they changed, what my doctors said at the last visit, and the treatment options mentioned. Then list questions I should ask at my next appointment. Point out anything in the sources that seems to conflict.
Original post
See clemencello (Hacker News)'s original post on Hacker News → (Oct 15, 2026)
Sources
- clemencello (Hacker News) on Hacker News, Oct 15, 2026 — the original post
- Google Gemini pricing — checked Nov 1, 2026