Nausea and vomiting during cancer treatment

Nausea and vomiting are often side effects of chemotherapy or radiation to the abdomen. It is common to be nauseated before vomiting.

How to ease nausea from chemotherapy

• Locate dry crackers on the bedside table to nibble on before moving from the bed in the morning.
• Choose foods without a strong cooking odor.
• Eat in a cool room without cooking odors or other strong smells.
• Avoid overly spicy, overly fat, or overly sweet foods.
• Sip on ginger tea when feeling nauseated.
• Drink beverages between meals, not during meals.
• Drink well-chilled beverages, or freeze favorite beverages into ice cubes.
• Eat before getting hungry, since hunger increases nausea.
• Avoid eating solid foods until nausea passes.
• Keep a food/symptom log to help identify foods that cause problems.
• Avoid tight fitting clothes.
• Ask the doctor or nurse about medicine to help limit nausea and vomiting. Take medicine regularly as ordered.
• Drink eight or more cups of fluids each day, adding one half to one cup with each episode of vomiting.