Support Transportation and Resource Services support group meets every fourth Wednesday at their Jackson office. The group meeting Wednesday, included, seated, from left, Estell Coleman and Bea Ohls. Standing, from left, are Kim Still, Safeway Pharmacy Manager Cindy Coon, Ron Guerra, Sharon Guerra, Sharon Martin, Debbie Gonzales, holding her granddaughter, Daisy America Gonzales, Donna Sargent, Bruce Schoenfeld, Sutter Amador Hospital Registered Nurse Emma Emehiser, Debbie Arnold, Arlene Walker, Chuck Walker and George Coleman.

Bruce Schoenfeld apologized Wednesday to co-members of his support group. He missed a meeting. They all laughed. That's because he missed that one meeting in two-and-a-half years, said Registered Nurse Emma Emehiser, facilitator of the group.

The group of cancer survivors, family members and supporters has met the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Amador Support Tranportion and Resource Services office, 631 Court Street, Jackson. Wednesday was no exception as they gathered to hear tips about chemotherapy medication and their side effects from Safeway Pharmacy Manager Cindy Coon at the monthly 10-11:30 a.m. meeting in the STARS office foyer.

Emehiser introduced Coon and also noted Schoenfeld's exemplary attendance record. She also noted that at age 88, Schoenfeld was honored at the STARS Camp Out For Cancer, held in September. It seems he was given the Oldest Participant Award.

The sense of humor of the group was evident through later moments in the meeting, when Coon recommended homeopathic remedies to chemotherapy's nausea inducement. She said that sniffing a freshly cut surface of a ginger root is one homeopathic remedy.

Group member Arlene Walker noted that a couple of gingersnap cookies is also a suggested approach.

"How about a Chinese takeout?" asked group member Kim Still, to a hearty laugh from the group members, seated in a circle around the room.

To help avoid nausea, one should avoid coffee, tea and greasy and spicy food, Coon said.

"Chinese food is out," she said, to more laughs.

Coon listed various pharmaceutical prescriptions to chemotherapy reactions, telling of side effects and treatments.

"If you eat a Whopper too fast," you're likely to get similar reactions, she said.

"So people say that the treatments sound worse than the disease," said Coon. "That's not true. We just try to treat the side effects you have."

Walker asked why she had not mentioned her particular medicine, which Coon said was not included because it was a pain medication.

Walker acknowledged that, saying she took the medicine for pain in her feet.

"I want to go that way," she said, pointing forward.

"But my legs go that way," Walker said, pointing to the right.

"That's the way she drives, too," her husband, Chuck said, bringing more laughs.

The group is sponsored by STARS, the American Cancer Society and Sutter Amador Hospital, said STARS Office Manager Nancy Carlisle. The group included veteran members, like Schoenfeld and also people coming for the first time.

The cancer support group was formed to bring together ex-patients to help people just diagnosed with cancer. The guest speakers give information and the meeting gives the chance to ask questions, meet other cancer patients and survivors, while learning about nutrition, pain management and other topics. All cancer survivors and patients actively pursuing treatment are encouraged to attend.

Guest speaker Coon and Emehiser are both cancer survivors.

The group meets 10-11:30 a.m., every fourth Wednesday, though they meet the fifth Wednesday in November, due to its proximity to Thanksgiving.

For info, call Emma at 296-2232 or 296-2526 or STARS at 223-1246.