Serge chooses hope over statistics
At 58 years old, Serge Demers spent his days cycling, patrolling the slopes in the winter, working on carpentry projects for fun and spending time with his eight grandchildren.
But all that got turned upside down when, in June 2020, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He had made an appointment for some digestive issues, nothing that pointed to cancer.
Concerned he might have a heart problem, a nurse sent him to the emergency room where testing revealed nothing wrong with his heart—but detected a mass on the head of his pancreas.
“I lost my father to pancreatic cancer, so I had an idea about how this might go.”
Treatment rooted in trust
Serge was quickly transferred to the CHUM, where he learned that the mass detected was small, “the size of a raspberry,” he recalls.
The medical team considered operating, but chose to start with chemotherapy, followed by radiation therapy at the CHUM. In January 2021, he finally underwent pancreatic surgery. Leaving the operating room, he caught his surgeon’s eye—and that’s when he realized the operation had been a success. Serge went on to receive preventive chemotherapy and goes to regular follow-ups every six months.
“I start each appointment anxious, but leave relieved and grateful.”.
In addition to treatments designed to cure his cancer, Serge also received moral support from several specialists, including a psychologist from the CHUM.
Overcoming fear on the road to recovery
From day one, Serge made the decision not to google his diagnosis or look up survival rates, instead focusing on his own journey with the belief that mindset could make or break recovery. During the pandemic, he chose to isolate himself living in the woods, not to escape it all, but to keep hope alive.
He stayed in touch with his grandchildren by giving them a lab coat to decorate, which he then wore during their visits as a symbol of love and connection.
Physical recovery is not the end of Serge’s journey. Post-operation, Serge has had to learn how to live again. His time isolated away in the woods has made him more afraid. He washes his hands compulsively, he avoids crowds, but little by little, he is getting back in the swing of things. He’s starting to cycle again, see friends and get back to his old routine.
The cancer was also an emotional shock for his family and friends. They’d always seen him as strong and unstoppable, but the ordeal brought out a different Serge, one who was more vulnerable, but also more reflective. It’s brought Serge and his loved ones closer together.
“Throughout it all, I’ve realized that mindset really does matter.”
