Brain tumours – the deadly intruder (June 8, 2009)

Guests: Gilles Cayouette (a patient at the Montreal Neurological Hospital) and Maria Hamakiotis (a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the MUHC Brain Tumour Program)

June 8, 2009

Gilles Cayouette was 53 years old, a successful businessman, with a loving family, and plans to renovate his cottage in the coming summer. After complaining of severe headaches, Gilles went for a check-up with his local GP; by the end of the day he had been sent for a CT-scan and referred to a neurosurgeon at the Montreal Neurological Hospital. Gilles was told that a large cancerous brain tumour called glioblastoma multiform (GBM) was threatening his life. Surgery was needed urgently – in the next 48 hours – he was told he might not survive.

But Gilles did survive – he beat brain cancer and wrote a book about his diagnosis, treatment and recovery (called “A Deadly Intruder”) to give hope and strength to others going through the same life-changing ordeal. Gilles joins us in the studio along with Maria Hamakiotis – a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the MUHC Brain Tumour Program – to talk us about his incredible journey.

Our guest interviews follow the World News In Three Medical Minutes – a regular feature on Health Matters where we summarize the cutting edge medical stories making headlines around the world.

If you have any ideas and suggestions for future shows please contact: healthmatters@muhc.mcgill.ca.