Managing Nausea During Cancer Treatment

As you begin your cancer treatment journey, you may be concerned about the possibility of nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are commonly associated with certain cancer treatments, particularly chemotherapy. While they can be challenging, advancements in treatment have made nausea and vomiting more manageable in recent years.

If your treatment is likely to cause nausea, you may be prescribed anti-nausea medications. This could include IV anti-nausea medications on the day of your treatment, oral prescriptions for use at home, or a combination of both. Nausea is much easier to control when it first starts, so it’s important to take your anti-nausea medications as prescribed.

In addition to medication, here are a few tips to help manage nausea:

• Eat five to six small meals or snacks a day.
• Opt for light and cool foods.
• Engage in distracting activities like watching TV, listening to music, or reading while eating.
• Avoid foods with strong smells, greasy, or high-fat foods.
• Stay away from foods that cause constipation.
• Add ginger to tea, water, or drinks.
• Suck on ice cubes, mints, or hard candies.
• Rinse your mouth with lemon water after eating.

Sometimes, what you think is nausea might actually be heartburn. Heartburn can be caused by medications given during cancer treatment that increase stomach acid and relax the esophageal muscles.

Symptoms of Heartburn:

• Burning or pressure in the chest
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sore throat
• Increased burping
• Nausea

Over-the-counter medications can relieve heartburn symptoms, but always discuss any new medication with your provider. Here are some additional tips to reduce heartburn:

• Avoid smoking and alcoholic beverages.
• Limit your caffeine intake.
• Reduce fatty foods in your diet.
• Identify and avoid foods that trigger heartburn, such as chocolate, citrus fruits, spicy foods, mints, and coffee.
• Avoid lying down directly after eating.