Breakthrough treatment for brain cancer patients

Diagnosed with a rare brain tumor while pregnant, Cindy Robitaille is now benefiting from a groundbreaking treatment.

During what should have been the happiest time of her life, Cindy Robitaille says she received devastating news.

She found out she had a rare brain tumor while she was pregnant with her daughter in 2022.

“I had an epileptic seizure in my sleep,” said the 31-year-old mother from Terrebonne.

Doctors diagnosed her with grade 2 glioma with a particular mutation.

“In that moment, I didn’t react... I didn’t know what to expect,” she said.

After giving birth a few months later, Robitaille underwent surgery.

Doctors removed most of the tumor but could not get it all. Instead of chemotherapy, she is now taking a new drug called Voranigo.

This treatment targets the cancer more accurately and is known for not having major side effects. It also slows the growth of the tumor.

“It brings me a lot of positivity,” Robitaille said, happy that her quality of life remains unchanged.

Dr. Sarah Lapointe, a neuro-oncologist at the CHUM, calls it a groundbreaking treatment.

“We are very happy with this drug,” said Dr. Lapointe.

The drug was approved last fall.

Despite it being a rare tumor overall, Dr. Lapointe says that grade 2 glioma is actually quite common among young people.

“There are about 50 to 80 new cases in Quebec per year,” she said.

While Robitaille’s cancer is incurable, she says the new treatment is giving her more time to spend with her family.