Hi everyone - I hope you are enjoying a wonderful day, enjoying some sunshine and all of the things that bring joy into your lives! 

Looking forward to having you join the Teal Thursday chats for August & September by posting below. If you have any questions please let me know. 

All the best!

Thanks @mfallis_OCC.

All...I'm going to be in transit at 1pm on Thursday so am doing a post now. I'm headed to Niagara Falls to see my favourite band, Train (Hey Soul Sister, Drops of Jupiter etc.). This will be the 14th time my hubby and I have seen them. I have met the band and had my picture taken with them. Could we be classified as groupies? Perhaps. 😁 Their music makes me happy and reminds me of joyful times in my life so I'm hoping for another fun filled evening. We are going with my in-laws as well (whom I adore) so it will be lots of fun. We are staying overnight in Niagara so it's a true escape for us. Perhaps there will be some gambling?? Who knows.

What is happening over the next week in your lives? Does anyone have any trips planned? I can't believe summer has flown by so quickly. I know many people take vacation in August so let us know your plans, whether it's a staycation or exotic travel. We are all in many different places in our personal journey's however I know we like to share in each other's joy.

Happy early Thursday everyone! 

@Alwayslearning

Sounds like a great escape! Hope you had a fabulous time!

@GloHo we did indeed!!!

#Anythingbutcancer

@Alwayslearning sounds like fun.  My hubby and I have many memories that are incorporated into their songs. And thinking about it my son too.  Such fun songs.

@mfallis_OCC

hello - I am interested in attending the Thursday (14th) Teal Tea.  I am still trying to maneuver my way around this site so I'm not sure how I join the meeting 
Thank you, 

Hi @pepperbee, 

Teal Thursdays are a special time each week when our community comes together right here in this thread to connect and chat in real time. Think of it as a virtual, text-based, hangout - casual, friendly, and open to everyone.

Just hop onto OVdialogue every Thursday at 1 PM ET, join the conversation, here in this thread, and see where it takes you. You're already in the right place. 

If you come back to OVdialogue and can't find this thread, don't worry - look for this to the right of your Activity Feed (this is the page that you come to when you first log into OVdialogue) - and click "Join Teal Thursday".

 
If you're looking to connect through video call as well, Ovarian Cancer Canada also has Teal Teas, virtual support group calls, that happen monthly - you can find information about the ones coming up on our Events page - or by clicking on this link. 

I hope this helps :) We look forward to you posting here on Thursday (and in the broader community anytime). 

Reach out if I can help at all. All the best, Marianne

@mfallis_OCC

thank you very much - got it 👍

@mfallis_OCC thank you for this info.  I was thinking it was purely the zoom chat, I didn't realize it's also weekly online here.  Haha….im a little slow on catching on sometimes!

Hello all from Ontario North country. We've been visiting friends at their cottage on the French River (about 6 hours north of Toronto) and off the grid for three days. I will catch up with all the discussions tomorrow as we just got back on wifi on our very long drive home. 
I did want to share some pictures. We played in a golf tourney where you had to use a rock and stick you found on the island. You could decorate it. I thought you'd all appreciate mine. It's in honour of all the Teal Warriors out there. 

@Alwayslearning

Sounds like a great time. Love your golf "ball" and "club."  Well…did you win a prize…if not for your play then best decorated ball/club?

@GloHo thanks. I can't figure out why my pictures turned sideways 😂

I did not win a prize. The prizes were more focused on the 'golfing' part of the tourney. I should have however because damn it, my club and ball were very well coordinated 😊

Hi all.

Late to the party again. This is my travel home day from Toronto after treatment…so just got home. 

Self-advocating took centre stage at my Dr appointment again. By the time I was done pleading my case the Dr actually agreed that what I said "made sense" and acted on it. Sponsor approved. Now to see if it helps with my liver enzyme bloodwork this time 😁.  I'll post a more detailed account in my clinical trials posts.

i also had to self-advocate for a Life Labs requisition + virtual appointment. This is for an additional appointment my Dr decided she wanted because she is "watching me very closely" and wants to get ahead of things if something comes up. What I don't really understand is that next week was a blood only week for me anyway…so why call me in for two days - with a day in between? That means I would either have to stay overnight in Toronto for 2 nights or do two 6-hour day trips for what my nurse informed me would be a "quick" visit. Nope…not doing it. I'm already starting to feel exhausted from all the travel and was so looking forward to the one in/out day next week. Plus we booked our roofing months ago for next week because it was a mostly off week for me. 

I also had 4 screw ups with my post-infusion meds - mostly the Drs fault!! Picture me trying to deal with my PMH pharmacy order in between my all-day 1/2-hour vitals schedule!! 🤣 What a day!!

Now…let's talk treatment day incontinence 😁. I always have pads or liners with me on treatment day - it's a must for me! As soon as they start infusing fluids (drugs, saline), all I have to do is stand up and there's a trickle and it continues all the way to the bathroom. This treatment, I didn't know until treatment started that the Dr had ordered continuous saline drip throughout the night. I usually have a four-hour drip after infusion for trial protocol - and I was prepared for that. Since it was an overnight hospital stay, I really didn't think my products would do the trick, so I asked my nurse if they had pads available. They did! They gave me Tena Supers. They were huge, thick and lofty soft pads - actually very comfortable. I have bought overnight pads, etc. before, but I always experienced those little side leaks if I wasn't careful. I felt so well protected in these Tena Supers - absolutely no leakage! Have to say I slept very well not having to worry about wetting the bed 🤣. I'm not sure if it's a product I can get at a pharmacy or if I have to find them on line but I'm gonna get e supply for my treatment day woes!!

Well, I feel better now…thanks for listening 😘.

I was busy doing my Penultimate chemo session!  Everything went well.  Energy is still good, hope it continues!

You go @Meinvan!!! Glad to hear the energy is still good. Warrior status!!!!!! 🩵

@Alwayslearning 🩵🩵🩵

@GloHo thanks for the update. You are amazing having to do all that travel while experiencing treatment/testing etc. I'm glad you self advocated for the virtual Life Labs and visit. I was able to do that once as well because of the distance I live from PMH. I was soooooooo appreciative and they knew it. We agreed that if there was a reason I needed to come in to see them as a result of the lab results that I absolutely would. There was no need so it all worked it. Sometimes even though they aren't doing it to be mean or spiteful, they forgot about the 'exceptions' that can be made. So I'm glad they made one for you.

Your comments on incontinence made me remember my chemo infusions. I always wore pads because there was so much liquid going into me over a 7 hour period and I knew I'd never make it to the bathroom in time, every time. I can't imagine all that saline and overnight. I'd pee the bed for sure 😂. It's good to know there's a good product out there. I did google Tena Supers just as an fyi. They are definitely available but appear to be called Tena Super Nighttime if they are the same ones you used. The things we have to go through. Geez.

Glad you are back home and with a little less travel in the coming days. Hope you feel ok post this treatment. Thinking of you often.

Hello all and I hope it's a happy Thursday where you are. We had two days of much needed rain and lower temperatures here in southwestern Ontario. The sun returned today although with lots of clouds. Temperature has certainly stayed cooler. Summer is starting to wind down sadly. 
I won't be online at 1pm as I'll be at PMH getting my CT scan and CA125 done.@GloHo thanks again for the advice. I called and said I'd be at PMH so why not get that done now in advance of my appointment on Sept 5th so I have it for vs post my appointment. They were more than happy to accommodate. Sadly my scanxiety is high. I hate that!!!

My hubby and I just spent three days in the Kawartha cottage area at friends. A nice getaway. Went to The Grove a small outdoor theatre in Fenelon Falls and saw a Beatles tribute. It was excellent. I attached a picture. 

I hope others are having a week with something positive happening. We all deserve that. Be well Teal Sisters. 

@Alwayslearning

Glad you thought of it and they agreed. Good going! It will definitely be good to have your CA125 results in addition to the scan results when you go for your appt. Ah, yes, scanxiety - ugh!! 

That looks like a great venue to see a tribute band! We went to see a production of Grease a few weeks ago at Drayton Festival Theatre. Indoors, but was a good day trip with our son and his girlfriend. Of course…had to stop at Anna Mae's for their famous apple fritters🤣.

I am currently trying to get my energy back after being on a clear fluid diet for two days due to their concern about my bloodwork. Plus I was on the road at 5 am yesterday to get to PMH for blood, ultrasound and Dr. Ultrasound didn't show anything new or unusual from the previous CT, so treatment is a go next week unless something shows up in my bloodwork pre-infusion 😵‍💫. Looks like it's trial med induced issue…so see what happens next. I was so hungry and so tired when I was done with my appointments, I forgot to stop to get my port needle removed…didn't realize until I was halfway home. Good grief!! So…I went to my chemo unit here in town to get the needle out this morning. Any way…very stressful week when it was supposed to be an easy-peasy in/out one day week! I did a lot of self advocating for appointment scheduling to get things done with as few visits back and forth to PMH as possible. Cycle 2 next week! 

@GloHo my in-laws are at the Dayton Theatre today at the matinee. How funny is that!!

Sorry to hear about the energy drain. You are going through so much. On the flip side glad the CT results allowed for continuing forward. 👏 Let's hope for no surprises next week at the pre-infusion bloodwork 🙏🏻

You poor thing on the port needle  with so much going on it is a wonder you keep everything else straight!! 

I hope you will have a few good days of relaxation & no stress  I'm sending my calming vibes your way (which is something because I tend to be anything but calm 😂). I also hope for easy peasy travels for next week and an uneventful infusion!!

@Alwayslearning interesting that it comes down to worry about scans. I got mine last week and I heard the blip on my phone and saw that I got a new result. But before I could check as I still had to work, the oncology office called - and my heart stopped…,she thankfully immediately said that I had no tumor but that my right liver vein was not well seen and they need to book an urgent ultrasound.it took me a while to realize, being so full of relief of no tumor 8 months post -chemo, that liver is an important organ and that I need to be at least a bit concerned. I will have ultrasound next week. Advocating for yourself is key. I told my oncology that I, having a clear cell, want to get maintenance treatment as well and I got another 12months approved for Bevacizumab - no good study data but works in single cases.So, I am pretty happy about that.

@Tanja ahhhh the phone blip. I totally know what you mean. Sometimes I hear that same sound on someone else's phone (not related to PMH or test results) and yet it sets off a pavlovian response of slight panic in me. How bizarre is that. Ah, OH MY GOODNESS, if I had have received that call I would have had a full body fear reaction!! I'm so glad it wasn't tumor related. Also that it's not ASAP urgent if they have it scheduled for next week. Still as you say, it all needs to be taken seriously and I hope they don't find anything of concern.

Good for you as well on advocating for the additional time for Bevacizumab. I like to think that if we are being closely monitored, then an extension is great. Well done you!

@GloHo. Good luck with treatment this week!  Fingers crossed 🤞 for good lab numbers🙏🏻

@Alwayslearning sending positive vibes for low CA125 and terrific scans!

Thanks @Meinvan. I got my result today. It was 20. That's pretty good for me. My average is around 18 and in July it was 23, so it came back down which is great. I also had a chest infection then so I wasn't surprised it was elevated in July however it still makes your heart skip a beat. I always have to take very deep breaths before opening my result. I'm still waiting for my CT scan results. Hoping with a good CA-125 that those will be good too. 🤞. Thank you for the positive vibes. They clearly helped!!!!

Hello Teal Sisters,

How is your Thursday going? How is the weather in your area? It went from the hottest summer ever here on the shores of Lake Erie to Fall, almost overnight. However it's lovely being able to open the windows again with the cooler evening temperatures. It is absolutely pouring here right now. Can't say we don't need the rain however then I have to close the windows 😂 

On a personal note, I got my CT results back (chest, abdominal and pelvis). Happy to report NED for all. Yeah!!! Combine that with my CA-125 which was 20 and I'm feeling pretty good (note that my CA 125 post chemo's has averaged around 18/19 so 20 is good for me). It was 23 in July but I had a chest infection so the drop to 20 was definitely welcomed. I go to PMH for the Lynparza (Olaparib) check up next Friday so am hoping for the trifecta and good bloodwork so I can continue with the maintenance drug going forward I'm one year into my two years. I still have a lot of ongoing unexplained abdominal pain, which good very well be a side effect of the Lynparza. Who knows.

If you are connected drop a line on what's new in your world this week. I always love to hear how everyone is doing physically/mentally and just in general with any fun plans. The long weekend is approaching (also my son's 27th birthday).  It will be a busy one with family celebrating. What's going on with all of your long weekend plans? Talk soon.

#Supportandencouragement

Hi.  This is my first time on the Teal Thursday and I'm not sure how to proceed.  I was diagnosed last summer and have had surgery and chemo and I'm in the monitoring phase.  Next meeting with oncologist on Sept. 3rd.

@beagle mom

Hi. Welcome to OVDialogue.

It sounds like your surgery and chemo was a success. Congrats!

This is a great place to ask questions or express concerns if you have any. Our Teal Sister community is a God send. We are all at different stages of our journey and are here to support you in any way we can.

I'll let@Alwayslearning provide you with a more fulsome outline of the goings on of this site 😁. 

So glad you found us, feel free to post any time (not just Thursdays)…we are all usually in and out of the site at different times…and we get our daily digest that shows who has posted recently…so your posts will not be missed. 

Thank you for the welcome.  I have been dealing with chemo side-effects (namely peripheral neuropathy) and I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for dealing with that.  Also, the brain fog that is related to chemo - I thought it would clear up when I completed chemo in January but I'm still having trouble with concentration.  What is the normal timeframe for the "fog" to clear or is this part of a new normal?

@beagle mom

That sounds like two good questions to ask your care team at next week's appointment .

I can't help you with fixes…I only had  minor peripheral neuropathy. Now, brain fog…that still comes and goes with the different treatments I have been through. I have learned to just deal with it when I feel it. For instance, I refuse to deal with financial stuff during my treatment weeks…too much going on in my head and with the side effects of the drugs they give during treatment weeks, I am usually dozy and just don't trust I won't screw something up 🤣. For me, it eventually clears. 

I'm sure there are some Tesl Sisters who can probably answer your questions from their own experience. 

Hi @beagle mom ... apologies but my welcome post went up and then I saw this post from you. There has been a LOT of discussion on peripheral neuropathy on this site. If you search those words in the search bar above, you will find lots of information however is there something specific related to PN in terms of it's impact on you? I personally had PN which started after my first chemo infusion last March however I was able to deal with it. I don't want to overwhelm you with my story. I'd rather understand what is happening specifically and see if anyone can lend their counsel from that experience.

As for brain fog....I do recall having that. I know mine did disappear however I honestly don't recall how long it tool and I honestly am not sure there is a "normal timeframe" for anything related to this disease and treatment. Teal Warriors...what has your experience been with brain fog? How long did you have it post chemo? 

Thank you @beagle mom for your questions. I'm sure you are going to get some replies!

@beagle.mom you said that you have OV stage 1 and colorectal cancer stage 2. Have you undergone surgery? Or was there a specific reason you got started on chemo first?

I had surgery on August 22, 2024 and started the chemo treatments 5 weeks later.  Genetic testing indicated that I would be a good candidate for Immunotherapy treatments if the colon cancer returned.

@beagle.mom that makes sense. If they got all the ovarian tumor in surgery, there is less likelihood that it returns - you should be cured in this regard. So, probably the chemo is more directed to treat the colon cancer?

@tania     My oncologist has described the ovarian cancer as being very aggressive.  The term 'cure' has never been used - the best outcome has been reached which is 'no evidence of disease'.  I have been told that I am a good candidate for Immunotherapy if there is a recurrence of the colon cancer.

@beagle.mom I am sorry to hear. Maybe then only the serous cell type and the clear cell type are curable at stage 1? This is at least what all the studies says, and this is why primary care physician need to clue in faster when women present with ovarian masses. But great to know that you would be responsive to immune therapy. I have clear cell OC and thus a more rare form of ovarian cancer, and also less treatable. But I cling onto the hope that immune therapy may work comes recurrence (there was a positive study recently). Of course, having 2 different types of cancer is a different beast, and tricky to navigate. I feel for you.

Hi @beagle mom did they identify your OVC type? For instance, high grade serous or clear cell? I'm curious relative to the term "aggressive". I'm still so thrilled that they found both at the early stages. I have honestly never heard anyone say that they would be 'cured' of ovarian cancer although agree with @Tanja that treating at early stages is clearly most optimal for the best outcome. As you indicated, I've only ever heard the term NED (No Evidence of Disease) related to OVC. There are of course Teal Sisters out there who have been NED for 10+ years. Something we all aspire to. 

Thank you for continuing to share your story with us.

#Supportandencouragement

Thank you for sharing your insights to PN and brain fog @Gratitude123. As you said each person is different and I appreciate you sharing your experience for @beagle mom as it helps to highlight the variances in what we all encounter. There truly is no "normal" and it's good to know that there are others navigating their way this this world. It gives me comfort to hear from other Teal Sisters to reinforce that we are all unique however all battling together!

Also, congratulations on the 5 year mark. That is impressive!!! 🙌🩵

#Supportandencouragement #Treatmentandsideeffects

Hello @beagle mom and welcome to the OVdialogue forum. I hope you will find as much benefit from this forum as I have since I joined a year ago. As @GloHo said, the Teal Sisters in this forum hold a wealth of support and information. Please let us know if you have any initial questions - either in general about the forum, resources available or specific to your situation. We are here to help. You can also type key words into the search bar above e.g., "Walk of Hope", and past chats/discussions will be available to you. In additional to this forum, you can also sign up for "Teal Teas" which happen monthly via Zoom and are another way to connect with Teal Sisters. I've included a link below to the September session however you can also find them on the OVDialogue main page (right hand side).

https://ovdialogue.ovariancanada.org/events/event-description?CalendarEventKey=9a082e26-ac3e-431f-8f4d-0198522b1d0c&CommunityKey=172c2157-676a-4181-937a-018f4f89ca5f&Home=%2fhigherlogic%2focapi%2foc%2fevents%2fcommunityEventsList%2fgetEventsList

To start, please if you are comfortable, feel free to share your story. I found this very helpful when I first joined as it enabled me to connect with others with experiences similar to mine. It helped me realize I am far from alone in this journey. You can do that by replying to this chat. 

Again welcome! We all look forward to getting to know you better and supporting you in your personal journey.

#Introductions

Last summer I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer (Stage 1) and colon cancer (Stage 2).  It was decided that I would begin receiving chemo to treat the ovarian cancer.  In an earlier post I mentioned having peripheral neuropathy and brain fog.  I have seen a post where someone had good results with laser treatment - so I will be checking into that.  As for the brain fog,  I was having issues concentrating before I even had surgery - I thought it was because I was feeling so sick and in a lot of pain.  The poor concentration has continued throughout the chemo treatment  (the last treatment was in January 2025) and I am still having issues.  I used to love to read novels but I haven't been able to concentrate enough to read for the past year.  I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

Hi @lbarr72 ... love the small town theatre shows. They are so great. The performances you mention sound so fun!

HUGE congratulations on 2 years post surgery. What a great milestone. So glad you are continuing to do well on Olaparib. I understand the fatigue part. I think you, like me, are on the full dosage (600mg daily). I read so much about people being so fatigued that they have to drop the dosage and/or stop the drug all together. I feel blessed to be able to continue on the full dosage with manageable occasional fatigue.

The "White Coat" ceremony must have been something to see. It's definitely a journey to get there and it must have been so emotional to see the new crop being affirmed into the profession. How lovely for your manager to be so happy to see you AND to try to get you re-engaged. 

Have a wonderful weekend yourself and please let us know....what are you making with all the tomatoes????

#Supportandencouragement #Anythingbutcancer

Hi @beagle mom ... thank you for sharing your diagnosis. I'm hopeful that at earlier stages you will be able to successfully treat both cancers. Out of curiosity have they started to treat the colon cancer now?

As for PN, I had a severe bout of that for my first chemo. It impacted my hands and feet, with my feet worst of all. I couldn't stand for longer than 30s at a time. I reported it to my medical team and they reduced by chemo dosages by 10% strength. As well, I took B12 and also iced by hands/feet throughout my infusion. We just used Ziplock bags, filled them with ice and I kept them on my hands/feet, rotating over the course of the treatment. My oncologist said that using ice was a myth however I gotta say, it worked for me. My PN dissipated and was pretty much gone by Tx3. How severe is your PN? You indicated you still have it. You could ask your oncologist if B12 or B6 would help at all (supports nerve health). I am not aware of laser treatment for PN. Any Teal Sisters out there have experience with laser treatment for PN? 

As for brain fog. I completely understand. My diagnosis/surgery were in Feb '24 and chemo March - July. I was an avid reader prior to that. I'm well over 18 months into all of this and I've read one book and that took me a few months. That would normally have been 8-10 books in that 18 months. I definitely have a hard time concentrating when reading a book. It's the oddest thing. I've had a book on the go now for two months. I just give myself grace and accept that it will take about of time now for me to finish books. I'm still reading, just slower.

#Healthandwellness #Treatmentandsideeffects

Thank you for your response.  No further treatments have been ordered.  A colonoscopy in February indicated no issues so the surgeon sees no need to do anything but monitor with blood tests.  I have been told I won't need another colonoscopy for three years!  I'm a little concerned by that.  The peripheral Neuropathy started as tingling/numbness but has advanced to pain/numbness.  These days I am wearing extra wide shoes because my regular footwear causes too much pain.  I was having so many issues that the oncologist cancelled my last Taxol treatment.   As for the 'brain fog" - I was starting to wonder if there was something else going on.  I'm still reading but at a very slow pace (actually I'm re-reading a favourite novel.)

@beagle mom ... understood. If you are worried about the 3 year colonoscopy timeframe you could request a Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT). I believe in Ontario (not sure what province you are in), you can have one done every 2 years and fully paid for by OHIP. Perhaps your surgeon/doctor has this in their line of sight for monitoring you in addition to the blood tests.

Thanks for explaining how the PN is manifesting for you. It certainly does not sound fun. I saw that someone had success using a physiotherapist. Perhaps an option?

As for brain fog...I can relate to how long it's taking to read a book. I'm like a snail now. I've taken to doing crosswords and other types of games to try to energize my brain.

#Treatmentandsideeffects

The irony of using FIT for screening - is that the results of the my test last year were all clear (about a month before diagnosis).  I wouldn't depend on that test at all.  I am in NL and apparently the government is now allowing people to self-refer for colonoscopies and breast screening through the MyHealthNL App.  Sounds like a good plan to me.

@beagle mom ... well that is very discouraging on the FIT screening.

That's very interesting that the NL government is allowing people to self-refer for those tests. Anything that supports preventative diagnosis sounds like a good idea to me!!!

#Healthandwellness

@beagle.mom and @Alwayslearning FITS is a screening assay for the healthy population to reduce the number of colonoscopies and still provide everybody >50 with a colorectal cancer test. It is not meant for cancer surveillance, particularly for those at high cancer risk (as we all are)and it is certainly not good enough to rule out cancer, as @beagle.mom has unfortunately experienced. So please girls get colonoscopies!!!!! Colorectal cancer grows inside the middle of the intestine as a polyp. And this, in stage 1, can be snipped off and cured. You can ask for getting put to sleep more rather than just having sedation. I got anesthesia and it was an easy procedure for me. Only this was the way my ovarian cancer was diagnosed as it had invaded into the gut.

Hi @Tanja ... don't you worry. I've been getting colonoscopies since I was 40 (I turned 60 this year). My father had polyps removed at an early age so it was recommended I start getting them at an earlier age. I had one most recently in May (I had to defer it from last year when I was going through OVC surgery/chemo). My results were all good and they said they'd see me in 7-10 years!! If I feel the need to have one sooner, I certainly will. While the prep is hell, I'm all for preventative tests such as this. Thanks for the reminder!

@Alwayslearning

That's fabulous news!! Congrats!!

I just returned home from my Cycle 2 infusion. Feeling good. I have lots of catch up to do in my Clinical Trial journaling for Cycle 1!! So much to report - mostly my notes/thoughts on my experience 😁. Hope to get to it this week.

The trial has kept me pretty busy the last couple of weeks so haven't been able to fit any fun stuff. My sister is coming for a 3/4-day visit at the end of next week, so I'm looking forward to that! She is only in St Catherines and we all try to meet for lunch somewhere in a small town between our places every month but, again, my trial schedule has been crazy and I haven't felt like doing any more travelling in between my appointments so haven't seen her for a bit.

I'm hoping my schedule is going to become less hectic now and I can get back to planning my personal life fun stuff! 

Hi @GloHo ... thank you!

I'm glad to hear you are feeling good post Cycle 2. Hopefully your travels to/fro were uneventful as well. I have no doubt you will give us the Clinical Trial update when you have the time. Give yourself grace so you are getting the rest you need.

Nice to hear your sister is coming to visit. My sister arrived yesterday from Houston. I picked her up from Pearson Airport yesterday.  She's visiting for a week. We only tend to see each other 1x or 2x a year due to distance so it's always fun. Plus she gets along soooooooo well with my sister-in-law and my husband's entire family (we have cottages next to each other), so it's always a lot of family fun.

I can't wait to hear about the fun you plan. I know from following your journey how much you have going on. Glad you will be able to infuse some fun into your life. It's definitely deserved!!! Continue to rest and feel well. Have a great long weekend!!!

Afternoon ladies,

'sorry I'm a day late. @beagle mom welcome to the group.  Glad your treatment is over, sorry to hear about the ongoing PN and brain fog.   I haven't had the PN 🤞but that does sound uncomfortable.  I hope there will be something to give you relief. @GloHo glad treatment is going relatively smoothly.
As for me, my sister is here from Ontario this week  but working and dealing with stuff going on  in laws family currently.  I did manage to see her for a few hours yesterday and we went dress shopping for a hospital gala I was invited to by a co worker.  Found a lovely dress and sparkly silver shoes to go with it.  I'm actually excited to go and get dressed up for the evening, it's on Sept 13th so after my last chemo.  My final chemo should be this coming Thursday!  It's hard to believe that this chapter of my story is almost done.  I have already gotten gifts for the cancer nurses, I bought some little keychain hooks with teal ribbons on them for my coworkers and friends who have been there thru this journey with me, I'm also planning to take them all out for a dinner to celebrate their support after my scans are done. My husband and I are planning a trip to Disneyland and universal with my son and his bff once my scans are clear and I don't need anymore treatment. For  myself I bought a little teal beaded  survivor bracelet with a teal ribbon to go along with the other teal bracelet I bought when I was diagnosed.  I'm excited but it will definitely be an emotional day for sure.  Anyways, this week is a big week!  Hope everyone has a great long weekend and can find some place to stay cool!😎 

@Meinvan what a milestone week you have before you. Congratulations! Please feel proud of yourself as this is a tough journey and each stage you conquer should be celebrated. I love the gifts you purchased. Very thoughtful. I also LOVE the trip you are planning. What fun that will be. Your survivor bracelet sounds lovely. Do you have a picture you can share? Where did you purchase it? One of my friends bought me a Pandora bracelet with a boxing glove on it (to symbolize my fighting spirit). It was a lovely gift. Please take pictures of you ringing the bell. I didn't realize how emotional a moment it was until it was upon me. It is symbolic of all you've been through to date. You are a warrior!!!!

@Alwayslearning thank you, I will post pictures soon if I can figure it out….

Hi everyone.

Oh boy!! I had insomnia last night. I don't know when I finally got to sleep but my puppy woke me at 4:30!! So…I just woke up from about a four-hour nap!!🤣. 

I had my recall mammogram with contrast today. I've never had one before. Had to arrange for a chemo nurse to come down to access my port for the contrast (same as CT contrast). Anyway…before I left the appointment, they told me all was clear. That's a relief 😁. 

@GloHo we should have hopped online! I had insomnia too driven mainly by my sister. She/I was staying at a hotel and she is a "sleep talker". So every hour she would start randomly talking...sometimes loud and irate at someone or something and other times mumbling or whispering. I think I too fell asleep around 4:30am however I had to get up at 7am. We were babysitting my granddaughter this morning so it was an early start.

We had a nice morning going out for breakfast and then we spent a few hours at the local library. It was awesome. It had an entire area devoted to young children. There was so much to do. We only read one book because we were playing with everything else they had available. As well we were the only ones there. It was pouring rain outside so we had our own indoor play time. I am not EXHAUSTED and really need a good sleep! I hope you get one tonight too.

That's so great that they could tell you your results so quickly for the mammogram and YEAH on the clear results. I'm due for mine (mammogram and MRI) in November. You just reminded me that I need to call and make sure that they are getting my appointment set up.

I dropped my sister off at the airport after babysitting my granddaughter. She had been visiting for a week. It's sad to see her go but on a positive note she's going to be in Florida when we are there snow-birding so there's that to look forward to. 

I'm off to PMH tomorrow mid morning for my every two month Lynparza check in. Will get bloodwork and hopefully all is still good and I can continue. I know from a week ago that my CA-125 is good (20) and my CT's were NED so hopefully my Hemoglobin, Neutrophils and Platelets are all good. Then I can continue with the Lynparza. I am having some erratic bowel stuff so I'll discuss that. I poop lots one day and then don't poop at all the next day. It's weird. Perhaps I need a diet adjustment. I'll speak to them. I've never spent more time observing my bowel movements as I do now 😂

I hope everyone has a great weekend. It's the "OCC Walk of Hope" on Sunday. I have a team of 20 walking with me. We will be out there in spirit for everyone who isn't able to walk. You are all warriors to me!!!🩵

@Alwayslearning

Yes…we should have connected online. Wow…your sister's sleep talking sounds disturbing in a number of ways🤣🤣.

So glad you had time with your sister and she got to babysit with you before she had to go home. I noticed that our library has a lot of different activities too. Sure is different than my days🤣.

Sounds like you're on a good trajectory for continuation. Sending positive vibes🤗.

Damn bowels…there's always something🤣.

Rest up for the Walk. Have fun!!

@Alwayslearning sorry about the sleeping situation.  Sounds like you have a busy week ahead.  Good luck with the labs and the follow up visit.  Wish you the best of luck representing the teal sisters!🩵🙏🏻

Thanks @Meinvan I'll take pics to share from Sunday. 
My appointment went fine today at PMH. Labs were fine. I continue on full dosage of Lynparza. As for my slightly irregular bowel schedule, as my CT last week was fine and I don't have any symptoms of bowel blockage, they suggest I try to moderate my diet with low fibre foods. They do know my sigmoid colon has narrowed due to scar tissue post surgery so it may just be taking time to work through my system. We want to see if low fibre foods will help improve my bowel schedule. If that doesn't work then it's the opposite with high fibre foods. It's an investigative process but it's always something right?! They weren't overly concerned so that's good. They will see me again in 2 months for my regular follow up. 

#Treatmentandsideeffects

@GloHo. Oh that's good news on the mammogram, not the insomnia!  😂

Evening ladies,  so today was my big day….the last day of my first experience with chemo!  My labs were good going in and my ca125 was down to 7.1!  Fingers crossed it stays there or lower🤞🤞.  Now I'm waiting for my CT scan, which will also include my neck to check the thyroid nodules there and see if I need an U/S.  I feel it's benign but you never know.  Then my next will be on the 10th for my post op check up, then I don't see my oncologist until Oct 6th.  Praying for a smooth next few days with little side effects from the chemo.  Gonna try and add pictures for you of my last chemo and the bracelets you were asking about @Alwayslearning.  I think I'll keep my survivor bracelets till I get my all clear on the scans.

@Alwayslearning

heres my bracelets and gift for. Nurses and friends

@Meinvan they are all so lovely!!! Thanks for sharing. I found the teal bracelet with the charm on Amazon. It's on sale right now. I ordered one.  

#Supportandencouragement

@GloHo I just saw this. You may want to ask if you can get access

@GloHo I just saw that the image was not posted. What I meant to show was approval of Elahere by Health Canada!
Though you may still not fit criteria, who knows…, you may be able for compassionate use.

@Tanja

Thanks for thinking of me. I've been through the compassionate process and was declined due to having way too many prior treatments. At least I now know I'm FRa positive if something should come up for another trial in the future. 😁

Thank you @Tanja for letting us know about this. I found a press release and here's the link if anyone is interested. I'm sure there's more information out there now if you do a search. It's great to see something new finally being approved in Canada. I know it takes a LOT of time for this to happen. Let's hope this option is applicable and good news for some of our Teal Sisters out there.

https://www.abbvie.ca/content/dam/abbvie-dotcom/ca/en/documents/press-releases/ELAHERE-press-release-EN.pdf

#Treatmentandsideeffects

@Meinvan ... congratulations on conquering chemo. I pray it will be your last experience. I love the pictures. Well done you!!!! Great news on the CA125. I could only dream of having a # below 10. I've typically hovered between 18-20. It's still normal I'll take it. I hope the CT goes well as do all your upcoming appointments. I also hope you have minimal side effects from this last round of chemo. You are a pro now at dealing with them!! Thank you for sharing. You are on a great path forward now. 

@Alwayslearning thank you 🙏🏻. I hope you had a great experience walking and representing your sisterhood! I'm going get a team together for next year when I know it's time to sign up!

@Alwayslearning. Off for my post op appt today.  I get my CT scan on Friday!😬. Hoping it's NED!  Still feel a little crudy post chemo, the last 2 rounds I have found my whole body aches on day 4-6, feels like lymph nodes swollen even skin /nerves feel sensitive.  And then usually my arm where the ivy infusion went in too feels painful and bruised by that day.  I have had to take Tylenol the last 2 infusions at night to help so I can sleep a little.  I heard each treatment can get harder so I assume that's what it is from.  I know my energy will be back soon and I'll feel better just in these days but post treatment I am often left wondering how much my body can endure……our Brains are funny how they work taking you to the lowest lows and the highest highs1🩵🙏🏻

Hey @Meinvan my fingers are crossed for a good post op appointment and of course for your CT on Friday. I'm sure there are many of us on this site that can relate to how you are feeling. I kept a one pager that I updated after each of my infusions, to remind me how I felt from the day I left to day 21 (my next infusion). I looked back at that page from my final chemo and saw that day 4-6 was when my entire body ached. It happened consistently every time. I know I took at lot of XS Tylenol post my chemo's (I always took my temperature first as they warned me to always make sure I wasn't running a fever before taking it). I was also told that chemo is cumulative and that it got a bit harder on the body each time. You are on the other side of it now and you will get more and more energy as the days go on. You are a Teal Warrior. You've got this!!! Please keep us posted as the next few days unfold.

Hello all...I know I'm a day early however I will be in transit tomorrow at 1pm EST. I'm off for a 60th birthday trip organized by my hubby. We are venturing to Quebec City, Montreal and then Almonte (via Ottawa). When I turned 40 my hubby organized a trip to Paris so he decided to resurrect the French theme. He has planned some awesome meals out, some bike tours, walking tours and other adventures whilst we are in each city. For those who may not be familiar with Almonte, it's where a lot of Hallmark Christmas movies are filmed. Yeup...I'm a sucker for a good Hallmark festive movie. While many make fun of them, for me, they are an escape into a magical world where things work out in the end. I'm always for a good happy ending and they never disappoint.

I hope there is something positive and magical happening in each of your lives right now. We all have ups and downs in our journey's and some days it's hard to see the sun through the clouds. I do hope however that there is a burst of happiness, even if something small, that brings a smile to your face. We each deserve that. 🩵

@Alwayslearning

That sounds like an amazing getaway!! Enjoy!!

@Alwayslearning sounds like a lovely weekend away!  Enjoy and happy 60th!

@Alwayslearning! Happy birthday! You made it to 60! Wish you 60 more healthy years to come. Enjoy the trip.

Enjoy enjoy
Have a fabulous time Your time can’t wait to hear all about it
🩵🤗
Sent from my iPad

@asatino I'm currently sitting for a rest outside the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City. What a lovely place this is. We start a three hour food and drinks tour at 11:30. So thankful to be able to enjoy this travel. This definitely would not have been possible a year ago. 
Sharing a picture with my hubby from yesterday. 

  @Alwayslearning Looks fabulous!

im off to a hospital gala tonight, looking forward to getting somewhat glammed up for the night.

@Meinvan I hope you had lots of fun!!!

@meinvan. You look beautiful!!! That dress is gorgeous!!
I’m sure you had fun- so nice !
Sent from my iPhone

@pepperbee thank you so much. Yes it was fun getting dressed up and going out for the night, but I'm really not a fancy kind of girl.  Im usually just in scrubs and yoga pants!  😂 

@Meinvan I love the dress colour and the tiara. You wear them both with beauty!!

@Alwayslearning thank you.  So funny I had a random man keep coming up and hugging me.  And other people telling me how lovely my dress was….they were all very kind.

@Tanja and@Gratitude123. Thank you for the kind words.🙏🏻. You are both very sweet.

Hi all. I'm currently in transit back from Almonte, Ontario home of many Hallmark Christmas movie fillings. Picture attached.  It was part of a trip my hubby planned. It was a fun adventure but glad to be headed home. We need a rest from our vacay. 
I've been feeling pretty good lately. Adjusting my diet a bit to help keep my bowels regular. Always a joy to experiment 🤨

How is everyone doing out there today? Weather is still crazy warm here. Won't complain. I hope there is an opportunity for a smile in your lives today. ☺️

@Alwayslearning

Nice pic. Sounds like you had a great time! A wonderful birthday celebration vacay!! I had no idea some Hallmark movies were filmed in Ontario.

Have a safe trip home.

@Alwayslearning glad you had a great vacay! Today I'm still purging and organizing my son's closet and room…..he has 1000's of Pokémon cards!  You can imagine.  He is a total collector of all things pokemon,gaming and anime.  I need a bigger house!  I'm also attempting to make focaccia bread this afternoon… wish me luck!  Trying to find new things to learn while I am off from work…..hope everyone has a great day!🩵🌞

@Meinvan you may be sitting on a gold mine with the Pokemon cards. My hubby and I were in quite a few antique shops over the last week and I could not believe how many Pokemon card sections there were. And the prices on some of the cards 😗We were kicking ourselves as we remember gathering our sons stuff up years ago and just giving it away to a kid down the street along with Hot Wheel cars (some unique ones too). C'est la vie! 

How did the focaccia bread go? My soon to be daughter-in-law gave me some sourdough starter at the beginning of the summer (it's been in her family for years) so it was the summer of bread here. I made rosemary/sea salt focaccia one day with it. My hips still haven't recovered 😂

@Alwayslearning. Yes Pokémon cards can be a gold mine!  We do have some rare ones for sure.  Maybe he will make some income out of it one day.   Fox cocoa bread turned out pretty good for my first try.  Thinking I need to make pizza with it next time.   Yeah I haven't gotten into the sourdough craze….too much work for me.lol.  Next experiment will be pie crust!  Yes the pounds will be back in no time, gonna have to control myself!

Hi all. Just an update on what I'm up to now.

So…I am done with all gynaecological trials that were available for me. I am keeping an eye on Phase 1 trials that may become available. In the meantime, I am headed to standard of care.

I have two standard of care treatments available to me before I have exhausted all treatment options. Gemcitibine is the first treatment I will receive. The most common side effects for this drug are blood counts and nausea. Topotecan is the second, and last, option but I keep hearing that the reactions/toxicity to this drug can be quite awful so we'll deal with that when the time comes.

I am very impressed with my London Onc. She found out on Friday that I was headed back to her and set up a telephone appointment for Monday afternoon! Then she set my appointment with her for today!! We had our little chat about the pros and cons of Gemcitibine and she also covered the fact that it may not work (doom and gloom)!

She sent a referral to the satellite chemo unit in my town to receive treatment starting next week. I just got home and had a call from them already!! My appointment is set for next Wednesday. The drug will be administered once a week for three weeks then one week off.

In addition, my Onc contacted the respirologist immediately because of the pleural effusion + drainage I went through. I have an x-ray and appointment with him tomorrow!! I am feeling fine as far as the pleural effusion is concerned. I do have a bit of shortness of breath but not to the extent I experienced last week. I was a little concerned because I didn't know how quickly the fluid would build up again. I guess the x-ray will reveal what's going on tomorrow. I am also going to ask the respirologist to transfer me to the unit here in our hospital. It makes so much more sense since that is where I would end up in an emergency and it will just make my life so much easier!!

I feel so fortunate to have such a wonderful care team here. Having the option to receive care at the satellite chemo unit in town is truly a blessing.

Now, for the dreary part of my journey… I have to revisit the paperwork to make sure everything is in order for my husband. I also have to take a look at purging some of "my" stuff.

@GloHo. Glad you have gotten some relief from the pleural effusions.   It truly makes such a difference in care when you have a great team.  I'm glad you feel well taken care of and supported by them.  Wishing you the best of luck with the new treatment plan.  I know you will keep us updated on your journey.  Wishing you the best. Keep fighting teal sister. 🩵🙏🏻💪

@Meinvan

Thanks for your words of support!! 🤗

@brendalee ... interesting. Thanks for sharing.

#Clinicaltrialsandresearch

@GloHo you should be very proud of all that you went through to go through the various trials. You have demonstrated to us all what a fighting warrior spirt is!! I am happy however that there are still some treatment options available AND that you are being handled by what sounds like a great oncologist. I'd love her name (if you are willing to share). I always like to have awareness of good medical support (I'm near the London area too). It's amazing as well that she has moved things forward quickly. 

I hope you got some answers from the x-ray and that there's a plan forward from that. I know you'll keep us posted on your new journey.

I understand the "dreary" part. We did our 'final resting places' last fall. A bit depressing but a fact of life. Alleviates any stress for my son too. My hubby and I do annual reviews of our wills and I recently added a letter to go with mine that speaks to how I'd like some of my jewelry distributed in my family. While I'm hoping for many more years of NED, I also respect that there are other things that could happen in life that are not cancer related and I wanted to be prepared. While I was sad while I was doing it, it also gave me a bit of comfort as well.

Deep breaths. You've got this. 

@GloHo in case you have not seen these studies. Sorry, I had to search…. I learned from my Oncologist that there is the possibility for Canadians to participate in NIH funded US studies. You would need to pay the travel.

@GloHo, sorry I tried to attach you the studies when I used my phone. It didn't work. You may have already seen them, but just in any case. Check out: NCT06865677, NCT04840589, NCT05691504, NCT05081609 in clinicalgov.trial

@Tanja

Thanks so much for the info! I was aware of the NIH option and did look into it a few years ago.

Thanks for your continuous support! 😘

Hi@GloHo .. this article was in a magazine I was reading recently. Good reminder information for us all. Thought I'd share based on your "paperwork prep" comment. 

#Supportandencouragement #Anythingbutcancer

@Alwayslearning

Thanks! Great article. I will look at it closer to make sure I've caught everything😵‍💫

@GloHo you are welcome. I posted it on my fridge as a reminder that I need to review it myself too!

#Supportandencouragement

Hello all,

It's a true fall day here on the shores of Lake Erie. It rained most of yesterday and while it's a sunny/cloudy today, it's still a bit humid. I realize it's now officially fall however I'll take this warm weather hangover. I got to spend some time with my granddaughter yesterday. She's 2 1/2 and always full of energy and joy. I've also started to get myself more regularly back in the gym. I'm focusing more on weights now...time to rebuild some of this lost muscle. What's going on with each of you today?

On a separate note, I wanted to send a huge thanks to all of you out there today. I know that everyone is in a different space/place relative to their journey's however it never ceases to amaze me how supportive you all are. The posts and discussions over the past few days have been on a wide range of topics however, you've all been stepping up and engaging. I have and continue to learn so much from all of you. So again, thank you.

Just a reminder if you have time, if you could complete the poll that OCC has placed on the front page of the OVd site. As well, I posted a separate question seeking member feedback. Again, if you have time if you could please provide your feedback. Thanks in advance.

Happy Teal Thursday all.
It was a very gloomy rainy day today here in Caledon. I’m helping out with my Mom and so I haven’t been on for a few days
Have a great rest of the week .
🩵
Sent from my iPad

@asatino I hope the sun is shining for you today!

Hi all. Geez…I don't even know where to start!! The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind.🌀 Forgive me if I am repeating myself😵‍💫

I met with my oncologist and we have planned the move forward. Gemcitibine once every three weeks with one week off…pending bloodwork (namely low platelets) that may cause a delay and dosage reduction. I was also able to finally convince her, after several years of ranting, that I want Gemcitibine + Cisplatin combo. We start with Gem…see how it goes…and discuss the addition of Cisplatin🤞. 

I am also dealing with a pleural effusion which seems to need to be drained weekly!! I will try to find the time to put more info in the thoracentesis post.

So…dealing with Gem side effects (first treatment)…this week was a bit of the chills and some aches plus the pleural effusion nonsense overlapping…I don't know which end is up right now!!😵‍💫 🤣 So, a few things to get sorted out but I can tell you that my physical and mental states have not been at their best🤣.

I continue to read everyone's posts and wish you all well wherever you are in your journeys.💕

@GloHo as the saying goes, "your ears must have been burning" as I was thinking of you and was going to reach out. Lo and behold, your post appeared!

As always, I'm glad there is a plan forward for you AND that your self advocacy continues to be in full force. Out of curiosity, why did you want Gemcitibine + Cisplatin combo? They are both very powerful on their own so I'm curious as to what you've read/learned that would lead you to so strongly advocate for them in combination. 

I'm sorry you continue to have issues with the pleural effusion. Not gonna lie. It sounds awful. I did some Dr. Googling on that just to better understand. I'm not sure I have any more information than before I started. I should know better. Has your oncologist said whether it's something that will eventually resolve? 

I know...I've asked lots of questions which you do not need to answer if you are not up to it. What's most important is that you get the rest you need as you deal with the current side effects of your treatment. Stay strong my warrior friend!!! Sending you big hugs🩵

#Supportandencouragement #Treatmentandsideeffects

@Alwayslearning

Thank goodness it was you thinking about me…I was beginning to think the ear burning was another random side effect I had to deal with 🤣🤣🤣.

You know I love answering questions! Especially if it will be useful for others to have some insight into treatment options and other procedures. 

I have read a lot of articles on combo vs mono treatments…combos always win out. I came across a lot of research for the Gem + Cisplatin combo…with good results. As you know, I am always looking at what's next so whenever Gem came up in my discussions with my Onc (over the years!!) I argued for the combo. As of January 2024 the combo is a standard of care option for OC…I haven't read the full drug monograph to see what restrictions there might be in relation to timing of use during journey…but it looks like it's acceptable st end of standard of care options since that's where I'm at. She may have been a little more agreeable this time because I told her I could get it at PMH (offered to have the Dr call her🤣🤣🤣) plus she had an intern with her…hmmm? 

As for the thoracentesis (drain). The pleural effusion affects the oxygen saturation that your body receives because you are losing lung capacity and your heart is working harder just to breathe. The relief is felt immediately. For me…my head clears, my headaches disappear, I'm not as fatigued, my legs feel better and I can breathe. There is some discomfort as your lung expands after the drain. The procedure itself isn't bad…they give a local and use ultrasound to guide the procedure. Much like a biopsy. Treatment can potentially help reduce the pleural effusion which is what I've been waiting for. It's just that everything happened all at once and I'm not sure how quickly I may see benefit of treatment😵‍💫. I've only had one treatment…so I deal with it as I wait to see. I do have a bit more info on options for draining and will get a post up in the next couple of days. I have another appointment with the London respirologist on Tuesday and hope to have more info to share.

@GloHo as always you amaze me with your uplifting attitude...your comment about the ears certainly did make me laugh 😁

Thank you for sharing the information on combo vs mono treatments. Again, I'm learning as I had no idea. My fingers, toes etc. are crossed that this treatment will be the one that works for you!! 🤞🤞🤞

Thank you as well for sharing the information on pleural effusion. Again, it's all learning for me and as you have said many times, the more we share the more we learn and the more it helps everyone on this site. So thank you, thank you, thank you for always sharing with such openness and honesty.

I hope the respirologist appointment today goes well and there's a positive plan available to help you.  Sending hugs.

#Treatmentandsideeffects #Supportandencouragement