Nausea and Vomiting and Cancer Treatment

What nausea and vomiting areExplain▾

Nausea is when you feel sick to your stomach, as if you have the urge to throw up. Vomiting is when you throw up. Both are common side effects of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

The reassuring part: antinausea medicines often prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting before they start or become a problem. If uncontrolled, vomiting can lead to serious problems such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and weight loss, so it's worth managing early.

Nausea and vomiting can happen at different times: acute (within 24 hours of treatment), delayed (1 to 7 days after), anticipatory (before treatment, triggered by the treatment setting), and chronic (ongoing after treatment ends).

What causes themExplain▾

Cancer and cancer treatments can both cause nausea and vomiting. Other causes include anxiety, pain medicines, taking certain medicines on an empty stomach, and other medical conditions.

Nausea and vomiting can be a sign of some cancers—such as cancers in the abdomen, brain and central nervous system cancers, advanced cancer, and cancer that has spread to the bones. Many treatments can also cause them, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, bone marrow or stem cell transplant, and surgery.

Medicines that helpExplain▾

Medicines called antiemetics work well to prevent and relieve nausea and vomiting. Your doctor may prescribe more than one type, and will tell you when to take them—such as before or after chemotherapy, or a certain time before eating.

You will usually receive antinausea medicine before chemotherapy starts, because once nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy develop, they are more difficult to treat. There are many kinds of antiemetics, and your doctor will choose the ones that fit your situation.

Everyday tips for managing symptomsExplain▾

• Drink plenty of fluids. Sip water, broth, fruit juices, ginger ale, tea, or sports drinks throughout the day to prevent dehydration.
• Eat foods that are easy on your stomach. Cold foods like popsicles, pudding, yogurt, and gelatin, and bland starchy foods like toast, rice, plain pasta, crackers, and pretzels. Ginger foods and drinks may help.
• Avoid certain foods. Skip greasy, fried, sweet, or spicy foods if they make you feel sick.
• Avoid strong odors when eating. Coffee, fish, onions, and garlic can bother you. Ask others to cook, and eat in a well-ventilated room.
• Eat smaller meals more often. Try five to six small meals instead of three large ones.
• Rest after eating. Sit upright or lie with your head elevated for 30 minutes after eating.
• Keep a record. Note when you feel nauseous and what you ate or did beforehand, to help your team find triggers.

Relaxation techniques—deep breathing, guided imagery, hypnosis, massage, music, and meditation—can also help. Acupressure on a point in your wrist, or Sea-Band wristbands, may relieve nausea when used with medication; ask your doctor first. Always check with your doctor before trying supplements or alternative therapies, because some can make cancer treatments work less well.

Nausea and vomiting in childrenExplain▾

Nausea and vomiting are serious side effects for children being treated for cancer, and can be treated with many of the same medicines used in adults, often at lower doses. Some integrative therapies—hypnosis, guided imagery, music therapy, support groups, and virtual reality games—may be especially helpful for children.

Watch for delayed nausea in children, which can be harder to notice; a change in eating pattern may be the only sign. Tell your child's team about any nausea, vomiting, or sudden change in eating habits.

Getting supportExplain▾

Nausea and vomiting can be hard both physically and emotionally. Ask your health care team for support—they can help you prepare for and get through difficult times. Caregivers and family members can find helpful suggestions in NCI's caregiver resources.