Managing Nausea When You're Being Treated for Cancer

Nausea is a common side effect of cancer treatment. Besides being unpleasant, nausea can make it hard to get the nutrition you need. If you don't eat well, you may feel tired and have trouble getting your strength back.

Nausea is common, but that doesn't mean you have to live with it. Medicines and good self-care can help you get nausea under control.

Medicines for nausea
Anti-nausea medicines (antiemetics) are usually started before you begin chemotherapy or radiation. You then keep taking them throughout the course of treatment. In many cases, these medicines can prevent or control nausea.

Most anti-nausea medicines are pills that you swallow. If you have trouble swallowing or can't keep pills down, there are other ways to take the medicine. Some can be given through an IV line or as a shot. Others come as a suppository, a skin patch or a pill that melts under your tongue.

Doctors have guidelines that help them know which anti-nausea medicines are most likely to work with which chemotherapy drugs. If you have nausea in spite of medicine, be sure to tell your doctor. There are many types of anti-nausea medicine. You may need to try a different one. Many people need two or more medicines to get the best results.

Tips to reduce nausea
Try these self-care tips to reduce nausea:

• Eat several small meals or snacks a day instead of two or three large meals.
• Always try to eat a good breakfast. Often nausea is worse later in the day.
• Eat at least an hour or two before your appointment if you tend to get nauseated during radiation or chemotherapy.
• Eat foods at room temperature, or cold if food smells bother you. Be careful to follow food safety guidelines and never let food sit out longer than two hours.
• Limit fluids with meals. They can make you feel bloated.
• Be sure you get plenty of fluids by sipping drinks throughout the day. Good choices are water, weak tea, clear soups, ginger ale and sport drinks.
• Don't eat in rooms that are too warm or stuffy. Use a fan or open a window.
• Try to relax. Learning a technique like deep breathing, muscle relaxation or biofeedback may help.

Choose the right foods to help you keep nausea under control.
Pick foods you like that are mild and easy on your stomach, such as:

• Crackers, rice cakes or toast
• Yogurt or cottage cheese
• Gelatin or pudding
• Plain rice or noodles
• Oatmeal or cold cereal
• Boiled potatoes
• Skinless grilled chicken
• Smooth peanut butter
• Canned peaches
• Scrambled eggs

Avoid foods that could make nausea worse, such as:

• Spicy foods
• Fried or fatty foods
• Very sweet foods
• Foods with strong smells
• Acidic foods, such as orange juice and grapefruit

Related Articles Nutrition Tips for Cancer Patients

External Sources American Cancer Society and National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Nausea and vomiting: Treatment guidelines for patients with cancer. 2001. Accessed October 8, 2007. National Cancer Institute. Eating hints for cancer patients: Before, during and after treatment. Accessed October 8, 2007.

Search