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Hello everyone! I hope you're having a great start to December and enjoying some holiday magic that is special for you!

Looking forward to having you join the Teal Thursday chats for December by posting below. If you have any questions, please reach out to me, anytime. 

All the best! 
Marianne

Happy December everyone! How is everyone doing out there? For me, this is the time of year where my #1 guilty pleasure engulfs me .... Hallmark Christmas Movies!!! 🌲❤️ I know. They are so predictable. So sappy. So over the top. So unbelievable. However, for me they provide a lovely escape. The ending is always happy. While I know that's not real life, for a short period of time I get lost in the over the top decorations, the most amazing festive baking I've ever seen, the outfits (oh I love the sparkling tops and dresses, the warm coats and beautiful scarves), and the warmth of merriment and love. All in a short 2 hours 😁. The movies remind me that it's important to take a pause sometimes to remember and cherish the things that are important to us in our lives.

So....what are your guilty pleasures? Anyone willing to share?

#Anythingbutcancer

Happy December!  So far off to a busy start.  I'm pretty much ready for Christmas, so it's fairly relaxed around here.  It's just the 3 of us so that makes it easy.  Trees up, presents wrapped and under the tree, now we wait for Santa!  Tonight I start zejula…..tomorrow I am off to my work Christmas dinner party with my colleagues I haven't worked since February but I will still join in the party.  Paid my hrd testing bill today so I guess the tumor is on the way for testing!  As for the guilty Christmas pleasure it's watching Alistair Sim in "a Christmas Carol" black and white version of course.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Happy December sisters!  Here is a beautiful poem I came across and wanted to share with all of you. 🩵

@JoanEG. Thanks you, very true, not just this year but I'm sure every year.

@JoanEG 🩵

@Meinvan I'm jealous that you are ready. I managed to get our decorations up here in Florida and my hubby decorated the outside of our house back north before we left so we will have nice lights for when we are there. I still have gift stuff to do when we get back north in a few weeks however it's not onerous and my hubby likes to wrap (I do NOT), so it's a good balance. My granddaughter is approaching 3 years old and is totally understanding the Santa thing this year and presents so it's gonna be fun (or a total disaster 😂). 

I hope your festive party was fun. I used to love going to any work related holiday event.

Glad the HRD testing is 'on the way' and I hope you feel well as you start the Zejula 🤞

I like your guilty Christmas pleasure. That is one of my father-in-law's favourite movies so I've seen it a time or two 😁. I will say that if you haven't seen the movie "Spirited" with Ryan Reynolds give it a try. It's a new twist on the Christmas Carol and I think one of the better 'new' holiday films (it's a few years old now).

Happy weekend!!

@Alwayslearning. Such a fun age to enjoy the magic of Christmas!  It's awesome watching the world thru little eyes🩵. Spirited not sure if I have seen it or not, I'll have to keep an eye out for it, thanks for the recommendation 

I live in a rural area and I love the beauty gentle snowfalls, of the snow blanketing the ground, hugging the trees and the silence that accompanies it. Holidays are bitter-sweet for me, for a number of reasons, but I enjoy seeing family and all he pretty lights and decorations. I usually get my fill of Hallmark Christmas movies in November and watch Christmas Comedy movies in Dec (A Christmas Story, Mr. Bean, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation are a must see). I totally agree with @Meinvan - every Christmas Eve it's watching Alistair Sim in "a Christmas Carol" black and white version! 

@Sfolk I live in a rural area as well and agree that the silence that accompanies a snowfall can be nice (and calming). I'm with you on the Hallmark movies. I've recently started watching all the holiday "baking" shows. There are so very talented people out there. I love your Christmas movie selections. Have you seen "Spirited" with Ryan Reynolds. I think it's one of the better more 'recent' films.

#Anythingbutcancer

I have not....but I will, thanks!

@Sfolk. Omg, Christmas vacation is a must too, the sledding scene no matter how many times I have seen it I laugh till I cry every time.

Hi all. How is everyone doing. Do you know that after today, there are only two more Thursday's in 2025!? My goodness where has the year gone? Do we say that every year? I'm guessing we do.

As the year comes to an end I get to reflect back as my husband and I write our festive letter. We love going back to January and working our way through each month. We take turns writing our letter and it's his turn this year. So he'll do a first draft and then I'll get to add my "two cents worth". It's amazing to reflect back and recall the adventures we've had, the joy and laughter, the ups and downs, and ultimately all that together we have overcome. I tend to get a little teary eyed upon my reflections mainly because I am reminded of the support I've had from family and friends but also, this year in particular, from the group in this forum. You have all been a tremendous source of inspiration to me. You've provided a space where I can be honest and where I can learn. It has all helped to shape my attitude towards this disease and my journey. For that I thank you all. ❤️🩵

I know the "festive season" means different things to each of us as we come from many diverse backgrounds. Do you celebrate anything at this time of year? Do you have any traditions? Would love to hear what you do that has meaning at this time of year. Would also love to hear how folks are doing. This can also be a stressful time of year. If you need emotional support from this group please let us know. I know we are all here for each other. 🤗

@Alwayslearning, I like the idea of writing a year in review for everyone.  I may try and do this just for myself, that " letter unsent", maybe a way to release this year and all it was.  I'm all set for Santa just waiting now….went with my son to walk around our little lake area by our place, the city lights it up every year, it's so busy now though, not like when my son was younger and we used to have the whole place to ourselves.

i had my bloodwork 1 week post starting Niraparib, didn't look too bad, wbc 4.1 is borderline but still ok.  I'll see what it shows next week, hopefully not anymore of a drop.  Otherwise haven't really had any side effects, so yeah for that!🤞🙏🏻🩵

have a great weekend everyone.🩵

@Meinvan love the photos. It looks so festive and how nice that the city lights it up each year.

Glad to hear your bloodwork was ok AND that you aren't having any side effects. That is amazing. I'm so happy for you 🤗

@Alwayslearning Well today is very frightful outside, dark and rainy.  A perfect day to do nothing but stay at home.  So today I took your lead and sat down in front of my computer and wrote my year in review letter.  It started out as a family journey but then it turned into something more of a letter to myself, to my husband and son.  Month by month I talked about my cancer journey, what my body went through, what happened, what I felt in those moments.  This is me releasing all that was 2025, so I can let 2026 in.  Some of it is hard to write but I put my feelings into it…it is not over yet, my story will still continue.  Next I plan on working on a letter for my husband for Christmas to say all the things I was never able to say to him this year as he stood here beside me watching me go through the fire.🙏🏻🩵

@LizR thank you 🙏🏻 

@Meinvan well done for having the personal courage to write that. I have no doubt it was very emotional however I love your thoughts on "...releasing all that was 2025, so I can let 2026 in." You are much braver than I am relative to writing the letter to your husband. I'm not sure I'd be able to get past the first sentence of that letter when I consider all my husband went through as well. It shows your strength and resolve! 🩵

#Supportandencouragement

@Alwayslearning thanks for the idea.  I think I need to write to my husband because I don't think he realizes how he held me up this year and got me through this.  He has had his our journey this year as my husband and I need to acknowledge that.  Then I will take on a letter for my son.  

@Meinvan ❤️

Hello all,

It's an overcast day in Florida today (I'm not complaining it's still warm 🌞). We are headed back north in a few days for the holidays. I'm not sure if I'm prepared yet for the cold weather however I will admit that it seems strange seeing decorations up when it's 25C. It really doesn't feel like Christmas without that chill in the air. My granddaughter (just under 3 years old) is definitely into the holiday spirit. I had a FaceTime playdate with her yesterday and she was telling me all about Santa. It was very cute.

I'm headed to PMH on Jan 2nd for my routine bloodwork at appointment at the PARB clinic. I go every two months for monitoring. I just called my medical oncology team at PMH to see if I can get my CA-125 done before Jan 2nd. I've said in a previous post that it's always a bit annoying not to have that result the day of my appointment (sadly it takes 24 hours for that to be returned). So I'm willing to head to PMH on Boxing Day to get it done so I'll have that result along with my regular bloodwork from Jan 2nd. Thankfully the lab is open on Boxing Day (reduced hours, but open).

I also have an appointment at Toronto Western Hospital the same day (Jan 2nd), at the "High Risk Breast Cancer Screening" clinic. I see a Dr there once a year for an exam. I had my mammogram/boob MRI in late October (results were all clear 😁) however I get the physical exam 2x a year. The second will be mid-year with my G.P. 

What are the next weeks looking like for all of you? 

Happy holidays everyone. I know for some this is a joyous time of year, having continued to challenge and beat this disease. For others, you are in  treatment with hurdles still to be conquered. Yet for others, this is the start of your journey and the path ahead may not yet be clearly defined. 

While uncertainty may still be a part of your journey, one thing I know with certainty is that the Teal Sisters in this forum will be here for each step you take. 

I hope you all take a moment to reflect on how strong you are. May the joys of the season surround you in warmth and love. My family celebrates Christmas and I intend to see the joy through my 2 1/2 year old granddaughters eyes. 🎄

I look forward to hearing how you are all doing. Each of your voices is important in this forum. May peace be with you all. ❤️

@Alwayslearning thanks for this lovely welcoming post. I am in the country relaxing after a lunch of cold turkey. We have had family visiting and now everything is quiet in the house. My husband and I will dive into our Christmas reading and get ready for some friends to visit after Boxing Day. 

While my grandson was here we spent some time painting with water colours. He is one talented kid! So exciting to see the world through his eyes. I love how the holidays bring these special moments. 

However you celebrate sending peace and joy to everyone. 

Merry Christmas ladies, hope you all find the time to celebrate yourself and your loved ones.  I must say I'm super excited by my gift from my husband.  I will be going to Amsterdam and Paris in March!  It will be my birthday while I'm away and my girlfriend I'm going with is turning 50 at the end of February.  Just need to stay healthy and get there!  But so excited!