Astoria, Queens - This holiday season, the Breslin family in Astoria is preparing for a Christmas like no other due to a recent cancer diagnosis. Jillian Breslin, a 35-year-old mother, is currently undergoing treatment for stage 4, triple-negative breast cancer, making the festivities a solemn affair for the family.

The most challenging aspect for the Breslins is explaining the situation to their 2 and a half-year-old daughter, Emilia. Jillian expressed, "The hardest part is probably with my daughter, Emilia." The diagnosis came as a shock to the family, as it occurred in May of this year, shortly after they returned from a trip to Disney. Jillian was in her sixth month of pregnancy at the time.

With weekly chemotherapy sessions and the uncertainty of Jillian's survival, the Breslins have had to make adjustments to their holiday plans. They have decided to limit their interactions to immediate family only, as Jillian's compromised immune system requires extra caution. Jillian shared, "We love our friends dearly, but saying no to those Friendsgivings and friends' Hanukkahs and all the friends' gatherings."

The Breslins' story resonated with Eyewitness News reporter Stacey Sager, who is also undergoing cancer treatment during this holiday season. Sager wanted to highlight the challenges faced by families living with cancer during the holidays. Despite the festive season being a time of joy and celebration, cancer does not take breaks.

Dr. Shanthi Sivendran, an oncologist with the American Cancer Society, emphasized the importance of supporting and understanding loved ones battling cancer during the holiday season. She urged friends and family members not to take rejections personally but to find other ways to bring joy and support. Sivendran stated, "As a friend or as a family member, that we don't take that personally, that we support that, that we encourage that, and that we find other ways to help bring joy."

Although cancer can be isolating, it is crucial to check in on loved ones, even during the holiday season. Jillian mentioned that people often stop inviting cancer patients to events, leading to feelings of loneliness. She expressed, "People stop inviting you to things, and that's tough. I want to hear from them."

For the Breslin family, the focus this Christmas is on being together and finding a sense of normalcy amidst adversity. They aim to create a team effort in order to bring a sense of normalcy to Emilia's young life during these challenging times.

As the Breslins face this unique Christmas, they hope their story can shed light on the realities of living with cancer during the holiday season. Despite the difficulties, they remain determined to find moments of joy and celebrate this special time with their loved ones.