Francine Riverin: A winding road and a major operation, just in time
Francine Riverin knows the Quebec healthcare system like the back of her hand. She worked as a lab technician for over 32 years, including at the Sainte-Justine hospital and the CHU de Sherbrooke. Although she has retired, she never left: nowadays, she sings in the Sainte‑Justine choir.
An unexpected diagnosis and a brutal shock
It all started with abdominal pain that Francine attributed to diverticulitis, a benign inflammation that runs in her family. She asked her family physician for dietary advice, but he encouraged her to get some tests done. They revealed a cancerous tumour, seemingly a small one.
The doctors suggested surgical removal of the tumour. But when she woke up from the operation, she was surprised to learn that they were unable to remove it—the tumour was actually the size of her fist. Her health had declined sharply, and she had to undergo much more intensive treatment.
After an ileostomy, required due to the narrowing of her intestine, Francine began a series of treatments. First came immunotherapy, followed by two rounds of chemotherapy, which she dreaded. She ended up asking for a second opinion.
That’s when she was referred to Dr. Rasmy Loungnarath at the CHUM.
“What incredible news that was! Once I got to the CHUM, I knew I couldn’t be at a better hospital.”
At the CHUM, a new course and a glimmer of hope
Dr. Loungnarath immediately stopped the ineffective treatments, as the drugs were not reaching the tumor, and recommended an emergency operation “before it was too late.”
On June 14, Francine underwent what would be that summer’s largest operation at the CHUM. Dr. André Roy, with the help of Dr. Loungnarath, removed her ascending colon, part of her transverse colon, the encapsulated tumour on her duodenum, the head of her pancreas and a third of her stomach. She was hospitalized for an entire month, until her body recovered and the medical team could be sure that everything was coming along nicely.
A careful, grateful convalescence
Once she recovered from the strain of the operation, Francine was deeply relieved: she was no longer at risk of metastasis and no longer needed chemotherapy. Although she’s had to make some dietary changes and is more tired than she used to be, she has resumed her active lifestyle and can continue to travel. She is being closely monitored by the CHUM’s team and is deeply grateful for the attentive care of Dr. André Roy, who is always ready to help and reacts quickly to even the slightest concerns.
“Dr. Roy at the CHUM takes excellent care of me and calls me often. The moment he sees I have a problem, he works hard to solve it.”
