A longer life for Michel Roy Gauthier, a helping hand for the patients who come after him
Michel Roy Gauthier led a busy but peaceful life, filling his days with his work as a unit still photographer and his passion as a founder of the Fondation Rivières. He never got sick—that is, until the day his doctor told him his levels of PSA, a protein made in the prostate, were abnormally high. A few weeks later, the verdict was in: Michel had prostate cancer. Utterly shocked, Michel embarked on a medical journey that would be as trying as it was unexpected.
A tough setback, a glimmer of hope
Michel first sought treatment elsewhere and got stuck spinning his wheels in a system that wasted his time. By the time he was finally referred to the CHUM, it was too late for him to get the treatment he needed. The next course of action was a prostatectomy, which he agreed to knowing he was in a race against the clock.
The operation went swiftly and smoothly. “I only spent one night in hospital and all the staff there were amazing,” said Michel.
Michel recalled that just before the operation began, the anesthesiologist held his hand and kindly listened to him, a simple gesture that meant so much to Michel.
A study offers more hope
Even with his prostate removed, Michel still had high levels of PSA. Further testing showed the cancer had metastasized. Once all treatment options seemed to have been exhausted, he was given the chance to be part of a study led by Dr. Fred Saad, director of genitourinary cancers in the CHUM’s urology department and director of prostate cancer research at the CRCHUM. According to Dr. Saad, “Patients who thought their prostate cancer was untreatable now have new hope thanks to recent treatment breakthroughs.”
Michel jumped at the opportunity. The study has provided him not only with a treatment, but also a well-structured, reassuring and deeply compassionate support system.
“It’s incredible just how uplifting Dr. Saad is. A few words from him and I have hope for the future again. I hope that my being part of this research will help the patients who come after me.”
Putting one foot in front of the other, together
Michel has not been the only one riding this emotional rollercoaster. His partner Karine has stood side by side with him through all the frustration, doubt and fear—and now hope. She points to seeking treatment at the CHUM as the turning point in their journey. She’d seen so many hospitals in her life but was blown away by the warmth and helpfulness of the volunteers who greeted them.
She’s moved just talking about this small detail that makes a world of difference during the toughest of times: “You can tell they’re there for the right reasons,” she said. “The CHUM has our complete trust. I’m happy with the decision Michel made.” She feels an important aspect of the study is its approach, which makes room for patients to have an active say in their treatment.
Today, Michel’s PSA levels are under control. He himself has said he plans to live to 100, and Dr. Saad has assured him that “if one day the cancer comes back, I’ve got four other treatments at the ready.”
