Liver issues

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Hi. I turned up for my third weekly chemotherapy session today (paclitaxel and carboplatin) to be told they could not go ahead today as my lips test revealed my liver had “shot up”. The nurse said they weren’t sure whether to go ahead but she had spoken to 3 different doctors who said a week off would be best. She said they didn’t expect it to shoot up after just 2 sessions. 

I’m a paranoid person anyway and now I’m on a right paranoid trip that there is something wrong with me, have I suddenly got another cancer, it’s so worrying. I have not drank any alcohol and have been feeling absolutely fine save for constipation and some blood in my nose which she said was normal. 

Has anyone had this and did you do anything to prevent it, drank more, exercised less, ate differently etc etc? 

This is all so worrying. 

  • Hi, your body will do so many things during chemo, consider asking them to lower the dose. One size does not fit all and they  offer other options till you ask. This does not reduce efficacy. 

    I took slippery elm capsules to help reduce the constipation naturally, and you can take them throughout treatment (more effective than senna), which in effect will take some stress off your liver  ( Liver issues are not solely related to alcohol consumption. This will happen because of the chemo your having). I also drank hydration tablets (brand sis/ vitamin c dissolvables (your choice) with your water daily to help with digestion. I ate plenty softer greens, both steamed and raw and prunes. Maybe this will aid you, speak to nurses more on this/nutitionist if you can.

    Keep exercising your bowls so hip movement, circles, hugging your knees, hips circles and upper chest stretches.

    See a nutritionist, you should discuss your concerns with your  oncology nurses. Maybe more helpful for the symptom side of things. Try not to overthink by thinking "something else" is wrong. Chemo will attack your whole body. It does not act in isolation. So you may feel and develop new reactions throughout treatment. It may taper off but everyone is different. How you cope will be different. I know its scary so do reach out to your nursing team often. No niggle, or discomfort is too small. That's the mistake people make and things get worse. Make notes of the changes your experiencing so you know how your body is responsing to treatment. All the best.