A little bit about Darryl’s Story…

Tumor #1

Back in 2019 Darryl suffered a seizure while at work, sending him to the ER. In short order the doctors determined his seizure was due to a brain tumour. 2 months later he would have surgery to remove the tumour. After handling the procedure and recovery so well, when they headed back to Sunnybrook the following month everyone hoped for good news.

Sadly the news wasn’t great and Darryl was diagnosed with a rare form of Brain Cancer, Grade 3 Astrocytoma. He would undergo 6 weeks of chemo and radiation therapy. All went very well and Darryl was eventually able to go back to work and everything he enjoyed. Unfortunately this wouldn’t be the last fight he’d have against this tumour…

Tumor #2

Just a few short years later another tumour had grown to a size where he would once again require surgery. After recovering at home, he went back for a 3 week follow up at Sunnybrook to find out that there was new growth starting. He then had to undergo 5 days of intense targeted radiation to try and stop this new growth. This treatment left Darryl in immense pain, inflammation and headaches.

In true Darryl fashion, he didn’t shy away from this battle and reminded this terrible disease who it was messing with! Getting back to himself this time wasn’t without its struggles but again, through grit and determination, Darryl returned to work.

Tumor #3

After being back to work for just 9 months, a new tumour was found in September 2025. This tumour, being significantly more aggressive, grew rapidly. Due to its location and size, surgery is not an option. They were given the opportunity to take part in a new trial of a drug called Tarlatamad at Princess Margaret Hospital starting in January 2026. Between the end of September and now Darryl has been suffering with debilitating headaches, partial vision loss and issues with speech just to name a few. He spends most of his days in bed not able to go down in the living room with his family.

He is not able to attend any of his children’s hockey games, practices nor leave the house for anything other than appointments.

This week Darryl finished his 3rd round of the trial drug and moving forward he will go to PMH every 2 weeks for 2 days of treatment. With the unknown traffic, weather and location of the hospital, accompanied by either his mom Shirley or wife Laura, they take multiple modes of public transportation to get there and back.

Regular MRI results as well as symptoms will determine if the drug is working. He could be on this for up to a year or longer. The hope is that the tumour shrinks to a size where surgery becomes a possibility.

Another ugly, harsh and very real reality is the financial toll something like this takes on a young family. When the first tumour was found, Darryl was just 36 years old. At that age not many of us think about paying extra insurance on our mortgages, credit cards or even life insurance. You’d just be in the early stage of homeownership, raising children, etc. Needless to say, after they found the first tumour, purchasing those insurances was no longer an option for Darryl. Unfortunately like Cancer itself, the banks, everyday bills and other life responsibilities don’t discriminate or show mercy.

Again, let’s rally around Darryl, Laura, Jax and Georgia to show them we are all #TeamMasterson as they go down this unfamiliar road.

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