Happy Holidays!

Hi everyone...by now many of you have probably heard our latest news - Dallas has to have another surgery because some of the same cancer has shown up in his thyroid. We were devastated - but as usual Dallas is rising to the challenge. He's thinking that since there was always a "spot" showing on his thyroid that the cancer may have been there for a bit. He's also pretty sure that the chemo and radiation have already given the cancer a serious kick in the pants. The doctors had a difficult time finding the cancer cells this time which makes us think that there really aren't many left. We're hopeful that this will be the end of our cancer experience and that after this surgery we can get on with our lives.

Dallas's operation is scheduled for January 20th so I'll be sure to update you on his progress. There's a slim chance that he could get called in for his surgery over the holidays but we're not holding our breath. Thank you so much for all the support that you've given us - our burden has really been lightened by all of you. Have a wonderful Christmas and let's raise a glass to a happy and healthy 2009! More later...

Love, Patty & Dallas

R & R Time

Hi everyone...we're on a couple of days of R & R in Tofino. It's been so relaxing here just walking along the beach that never seems to end. Dallas has a few weeks of doctor free time so that was cause for celebration! If his PET scan goes well in January then he doesn't have any more checkups until the middle of March. Life is good...

Love, Patty & Dallas

SO FAR SO GOOD!

Dallas is now midway through his check up week and so far everything is going well. He had several biopsies yesterday which were pretty stressful. Although the pathology on the tissue samples won't be back for a few weeks both the pathologist and the radiologist conducting the tests were pretty positive there weren't any cancer cells present. They were checking Dallas's thyroid this time because he does have a growth there and they want to keep an eye on it.

Today was Dallas's check up with the surgeon and that went well too. He's sending Dallas to Vancouver again for another PET scan - it's the most definitive technology out there as far as cancer detection goes. The PET scan will hopefully be sometime in January so if all goes well we'll be off the hook for a little while. Dallas still has to go to the cancer clinic this week for a follow up with the radiation oncologist but I'm sure he'll pass those tests with flying colours too.

Other than all the poking and prodding that he's had to put up with this week, Dallas is doing really well. He's starting to work hard on getting back that shoulder movement which is a big challenge. He's still having a fair amount of nerve pain but the surgeon reassured us that it is a side effect of the surgery and not a sign that the cancer is spreading.

We're starting to feel as though our lives are getting back on track. Earlier this week Dallas enjoyed a day out on the boat fishing and landed a salmon so he hasn't lost his touch! We're still taking life day by day here but we're also starting to feel cautiously optimistic. Thanks as always for all the support. More later...

Love,
Patty and Dallas
PS - Lawrence we'll be expecting to see you in all your Canuck gear front and centre at PGA West - make us proud!

HI FROM THE SUNNY WEST COAST!

Hi everyone...believe it or not as I write this the sun is shining on us! We've been keeping busy here - we even snuck in a quick trip to the San Juan Islands. Keeping busy is good diversionary tactic for us both. As far as Dallas's symptoms are concerned, I think that he feels as though he has taken two steps forward and one step back. While I notice that he's getting a lot stronger (chopping wood, power walking, etc.) he's experiencing some new pain which is very stressful. I think that the nerves and muscles that were affected by his surgery didn't have time to fully heal before they were bombarded with chemo and radiation. As a result, they're now complaining big time. On the positive side, Dallas has feeling in his face and neck where he thought he'd lost it, so I guess this is a time of healing and change as we wait and see how everything will turn out. Yesterday was a good day so I'm hopeful that more will follow.

Dallas starts getting poked and prodded the last week in November, so I'll report in then and let you know how everything is going. Thanks as always for your ongoing love and support! More later...

Love, Patty

Rounding the Corner!

Hi everyone...thanks again for all the wonderful emails, blog comments, calls and visits! You have lightened our burden and helped us both find the strength we needed to face our recent challenges. YOU ARE THE BEST!

I am pleased to report that Dallas is feeling stronger with each passing day. The radiation burns are slowly healing up and the effects of the chemo are almost gone. Dallas starts physio on Wednesday. He'll be working on many things including neck and shoulder rotation, facial muscles (there goes that cute crooked grin!) and overall strengthening. The next hurdle will be passing all the tests that the doctors will throw at him soon - please keep your fingers crossed.

Despite all of this I really feel like we're rounding the corner and even if life isn't quite normal, it's getting there. This weekend Dallas and Steve were out on the boat fishing and we spent Saturday afternoon boating with some friends. The best change is that we're not travelling to the cancer clinic every day! More later...

Love,
Patty

Recovering...

As I write this, Dallas is taking a snooze. They said that the effects of chemo and radiation would be cumulative and boy were they right! This week the Big Guy is more tired than he has been since after surgery and he's suffering from some painful burns on his neck - the results of radiation. I'm sure that in a week or two he'll feel a lot better. Even though he wasn't feeling top notch today, we still walked 3 km. He never ceases to amaze me! More later...

Love, Patty

ONE MORE TREATMENT!

Yippee! Dallas only has one more radiation treatment on Monday and then that's it for now. As the chemo wears off his system he has been feeling better and stronger as the week progresses. After Monday's treatment Dallas will have ongoing checkups and tests to make sure the cancer has been eradicated. As the Oncologist said "we'll keep our fingers crossed" - and of course your continual positive thoughts and prayers will help too! More later...

Love Patty & Dallas

PS - Anne & Brian - thanks so much for the call from Italy!