Chemo round 2 and support group

Hi all,
Lots of stuff to report on...

Had Chemo round 2 today. Chi took me to and from my appointments, thank you Chi! Good news from the oncologist, after a quick exam, he think my tumor has shrunk a little already. He brought out a little plastic ruler and measured best he could.

At the treatment center, everything went reasonably well except when I started to get the Taxotere, i started to get a reaction to it... scary one... i started having what felt like pressure on my lungs. I did not feel difficulty breathing but it freaked me out and I think I probably would have, if I hadn't spoken up. So the doc rushed over, checked me out and they gave me a steroid, then started me back on it. Everything was fine after this. Downside is I probably have to have this steroid every chemo now. What steroid? I dunno? I don't ask those questions (especially when you are all woozy and clued out) but I will on my return visit tomorrow. I always go the day after for my shot of Neulasta which boosts my white blood cell count. Speaking of white blood cells, mine were slightly low today. When I asked the nurse if it was something I was doing or if I could do something differently... he said "stop taking chemo" ;-)

Finally got to my first support group. There were four of us there and a facilitator. This was the Young Women with Cancer group but I fit right in. Our ages ranged from 42 to 27. Lots of interesting information sharing, different ways at looking at things, different ways of coping, and affirmation that it was OK to not pretend that we are doing great and if we feel crappy, it's OK. I look forward to meeting with these and other women again.

Last note, I am organizing a team to do the 2009 Susan Komen Race for the Cure on Sunday September 27 in Newport Beach. My friend Lois suggested a bunch of great team names and I went with Pinky Mo and the Livestrongs. Thanks Lois! So, if you want to become one of my Livestrong teamates:

https://www.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=310226&lis=1&kntae310226=81F8D7A00BE6460799983B93C60422DF&supId=266363026&team=3492985

A note: I am planning on doing the 9:45 am walk/run (but I am walking).

Or want to support the team while we raise money to fight this evil cancer, click on this link :

http://www.ockomen.com/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=310226&lis=1&kntae310226=8BDC24638D95438FAA72A891BBC8A560&supId=0&team=3492985&cj=

To support me individually, click on this link (choice is yours):

http://www.ockomen.com/faf/search/searchParticipants.asp?ievent=310226&lis=1&kntae310226=8BDC24638D95438FAA72A891BBC8A560

Thanks for the support and for staying tuned. You all make me feel loved and cared for and it really keeps me going.