Brent Parker's future as the general manager of the Regina Pats has taken a back seat to a more pressing issue -- his health.

Parker released a statement on Monday confirming that he has been diagnosed with a soft tissue cancer in his upper back and shoulder. The 42-year-old has already started treatments at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary and told the Leader-Post he's optimistic about the prognosis.

"From my end, I'm certainly not approaching it as 'Why me?' or anything like that," he said. "My doctor told me it wasn't a lifestyle choice or anything else that caused it. It was something I was going to get, that's just the way it is. You know what? You play with the hand you're dealt. By all accounts everything is treatable and I've been really encouraged by my conversations with the doctors. I'm very positive about everything."

That includes his plans for the summer.

"I told my own kids that our life isn't changing," continued the father of two. "We're full-steam ahead with Little League and lacrosse and volleyball and everything else. Nothing is going to change from our end. It's just a matter of me having to go get some treatments and get some things cleaned up, but I don't foresee it slowing me down one bit."

Parker initially became concerned with a growth on his shoulder prior to the start of the WHL playoffs. His fears were confirmed when he received the official diagnosis just three days before the May 1 WHL bantam draft.

The news has played a role in Parker's reluctance to declare his plans for the future. He stated at the end of the season that he needed some time to decide if he would return for his 14th campaign with the Pats.

Although Parker was expected to retain the GM's post, a formal announcement has now been postponed until his health issues are resolved.

"I'm not even thinking about that aspect of things," he said Monday, noting that his condition "puts a lot of things in perspective" with respect to life and hockey. "My health is more important."

Parker will continue performing his usual duties, although he may be forced to step away on occasion while undergoing further treatment, tests, etc. Other than that, he has told his staff it's business as usual.

"I'm not going to sit around moping," he said with a chuckle. "Life is full-speed ahead. I'm not good at sitting around. I never have been and I don't imagine I ever will be. I'll take days (off) if I need to take days ... but I don't plan on taking a set period of time right now.

"I'm coaching a Little League team and I fully intend on continuing to coach it," he added. "Barring unforeseen circumstances I plan on being at league meetings and being at the NHL draft and all the things I was going to do. Now, some of the treatments may preclude that. If they do, they do."

Parker initially kept the news quiet, but elected to release a statement Monday after he was contacted by the Leader-Post seeking comment. Over the past several days, he has informed family members and other people close to him, including Pats head coach Curtis Hunt.

"Never mind the fact that I work for Brent, we've been able to foster a very good friendship," said Hunt, who joined the team in 2004. "Whenever your friends are going through some adversity, you try to offer some comfort and support in any way you can. What I know about him in the seven years I've known him -- probably more intimately in the last four -- is that he's a fighter. He seems to attack everything head-on and I would expect nothing but the same in terms of how he'll move forward with this. It's funny, even as he shared it with me, he just kind of shrugged it off as, 'I guess we'll go and see what happens.' You have to admire that quality."

Asked for his initial reaction to the news, Hunt recalled a sense of disbelief.

"It just tells you how little control you really have," he noted. "We're relatively the same age. He's a young man with a young family. But from everything he shared with us in terms of severity, it's a very, very positive outlook. Knowing the type of character he has, he'll just mow right through it."

Parker, whose father Russ owns the Pats, has taken a year-to-year approach for the past three seasons with respect to his position with the team, expressing a desire to spend more time with family and pursue other business interests.

It's generally assumed that when Parker decides to move on, the team will be sold. The leading contenders are a group that includes ex-Pats stars Mike Sillinger and Jamie Heward.

When confirming last summer that he would return in 2007-08, Parker hinted that it wasn't a long-term commitment.

"You have to weigh things," he said. "In the not-too-distant future, it will be time."

Parker has repeatedly stated that he still enjoys working with the Pats' staff and players, but he has also cited other areas of concern. One of them is a desire to improve the working relationship with IPSCO Place, which runs the Brandt Centre.

The sides are currently in negotiations to renew a lease agreement, which is set to expire at the end of this month. Parker's future as GM -- plus the team's ownership status -- could be tied to the lease talks.

Now, Parker's health concerns have added to the equation. If he is forced to step away for an extended period, it would place more responsibility in the hands of people like Hunt and director of scouting Todd Ripplinger.

"I'm prepared for anything and everything," said Hunt. "I think that's the way it should be, whether or not it was from this or if it was a personal decision. We're certainly aware that he has some different options. My attitude is, whatever is around the corner, we'll deal with it when it happens. But it isn't even a topic that has been discussed."

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OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Regina Pats general manager Brent Parker released the following statement regarding his health situation on Monday afternoon:

"Over the past couple of weeks there have been numerous inquiries pertaining to the state of my health. My family and I had hoped to keep this matter private, but understand that the nature of my business does not always allow for that to happen.

have recently been diagnosed with a form of soft tissue cancer that was located in my upper back and shoulder.

"To this point I have undergone one procedure and will undergo further tests and procedures in the coming days and weeks that will determine the full extent of what lies ahead. I have received tremendous care and encouragement from the doctors here in Regina, as well as those at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary and I am confident that while I do have some challenges ahead my condition is treatable.

"I appreciate the concern that has been shown regarding my health, and I'm sure you can all understand what my family and I are going through has been tough on us all. On this note I would appreciate you respecting our family's privacy as we deal with this matter."

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