My Liver Cancer Blog

My red blood cell count went into the shitter this week, and all I want to do is nap.

Up until now I was luxuriating in a mostly chemo-side-effect-free treatment experience. But now I am tired, tired, tired. I can only hope that if the chemo is killing my red blood cells, it is also killing the tumor. And I’m only halfway through, having completed 4 of 8 cycles. Last week it was a comfort knowing I still had 4 cycles left of a treatment I’ve become accustomed to and wasn’t causing me any ill effects. Now I’ll admit to some dread, or at least trepidation. I don’t want to spend the next 3 months feeling this tired. On the other hand, I also worry (but half hope) that my oncologist will want me to take a chemo pause to let the red blood cells recover.

I’m remembering the “Cancer-related Fatigue” nutrition workshop I attended where some participants talked about being so tired it felt like the most they could do was prepare themselves toast with butter. I am not there, but I can imagine how easily I would get there if I didn’t have my husband filling me up with iron-rich meals (he’s about to go to the fish store to get clams, oysters, and mussels for a soup).

My sister has been volunteering for Lasagna Love (https://lasagnalove.org) for years now. I don’t know how many lasagnas she’s made and delivered. I’m wondering if something similar could be set up for cancer patients who are having a hard time managing nutrition because of fatigue and not having people to cook for them.

Anyway, time to check my hubris about being so blissfully free of side effects.