Nausea And Vomiting

Nausea and /or vomiting are probably the most common side effects of chemotheropy,and the most feared.

Not all patients experience nausea and or vomiting at all and there are effective treatments available for those who do have trouble.

The goal for your Doctor and nurses is for you to have NO nausea or vomiting.

Early prevention of this symptom is critical.If nausea and vomiting are not properly controlled,they can lead to:

1. Poor nutrition

2. Deydration

3. Weight loss

4. Hindrance or stoppage of treatment

5. A negative impact on your quality of life

If you are undergoing treatment that may cause nausea and vomiting,your physician will give you a prescription for one or more anti-nausea drugs. Have the prescription filled at your pharmacy and bring the pills with you on the day of your chemotherapy treatment.DO NOT take the pills before speaking to your primary nurse. She/He will discuss with you when and how often to take the anti-nausea pills.

Nausea and/or vomiting may be delayed up to seven days after your treatment cycle is finished.

If you are experiencing nausea or vomiting,it is important to let your primary nurse know. There are several different types of anti-nausea drugs. Some work better than others for different people and for different treatments.

Any vomiting that lasts more than 24 hours should be reported to your primary nurse or physician immediately!

To help prevent nausea and / or vomiting:

1. Eat small frequent meals.

2. Eat what you want and what tastes good.

3. Avoid alcoholic beverages on the days your are receiving chemotherapy

4. Try low fat,"bland" foods and avoid those foods which may cause "gas"

5. Avoid lying down immediately after eating.

If nauseated or vomiting:

1. Use your anti-nausea drugs regularly

2. No harm is done if you are not able to eat solid foods for a few days.

3. It is important to keep taking fluids!!!

Its better to use anti-nausea drugs than to begin to anticipate nausea. Anitcpatory nausea and vomiting can usually be prevented if nausea is controlled eary on in treatment.

In order to understand what our loved ones are dealing with,we must inform ourselves.
The info on the next few pages will help not only those with cancer understand how to cope...
but also those family members who find themselves wanting more info.