What should I do about nausea and vomiting?

ACS Answer

Nausea is having a sick feeling in the stomach, and vomiting is throwing up. Nausea can occur even when a person is not thinking about food. A person can vomit even if he or she has not eaten anything and hasn't had any nausea. Nausea or vomiting can be caused by eating something that disagrees with you, or by the radiation or chemotherapy treatments for cancer. However, many people have little or no nausea and vomiting with these treatments. Cancer by itself may cause nausea and vomiting. Sometimes, just thinking about going for treatment can cause nausea or vomiting. Frequent vomiting can be dangerous because it can lead to dehydration or to choking on food or liquids (aspiration).

What to look for

• Changes in eating habits
• Foul mouth odor
• Yellow or green foul-smelling fluids on bedclothes

What to do for nausea

• Eat bland foods, such as dry toast and crackers.
• If the nausea occurs only between meals, eat frequent, small meals, and snacks at bedtime.
• Drink clear liquids served cold and sipped slowly. Clear liquids are liquids that you can see through, such as ginger ale, apple juice, broth, tea, etc. Also try Popsicles or gelatin.
• Eat the foods you like. Many people do not like the taste of red meat and meat broths when they're nauseated. Exchange other protein sources, such as fish and chicken.
• Suck on hard candy that smell good, such as lemon drops or mints, to help get rid of bad tastes.
• Eat food cold or at room temperature to decrease its smell and taste.
• Be sure that your doctor is aware of the nausea. There are several medications that can be given to help it.
• If nausea occurs in anticipation of a visit to the doctor, ask your physician about hypnosis or other relaxation or behavioral therapies to lessen this problem.
• Rest comfortably in a quiet environment.
• Try to rest quietly for at least one hour after each meal.
• Distract yourself with soft music, a favorite television program, or company.
• If you feel nauseated, relax and take slow deep breaths.
• Ask your doctor about medical treatment, especially if you have been receiving chemotherapy.

What to do for vomiting

• If you are in bed, lie on your side so that the vomit will not be inhaled or swallowed.
• Request that medications be prescribed in suppository form.
• Suck on ice chips or frozen juice chips that can be munched slowly.
• Ask your doctor about medical treatment, especially if you have been receiving chemotherapy.

Do not

• Assume that nausea or vomiting always follows chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Try to consume foods or fluids when nauseated or vomiting
• Lie flat on your back
• Eat foods that are sweet, fatty, salty, or spicy, or foods that have strong smells
• Have unnecessary stimulation or excitement
• Eat for 4-8 hours, if vomiting often (after that time, start to try clear liquids)
• Consume only clear liquids for more than two days in a row

Call the doctor about any of the following symptoms

• Inhaling vomit, or worry that you might have inhaled some vomit
• Vomiting more than three times an hour for three or more hours
• Vomit with blood or material that looks like coffee grounds in it
• Inability to drink more than four cups of liquid or ice chips in a day, or inability to eat food for more than two days
• Inability to take your medications
• Feeling weak and/or dizzy

Related Resources

Get more information about nausea and vomiting.

Get more information about the treatment of nausea and vomiting.

Find books that cover this and other cancer topics at the American Cancer Society bookstore.

Recommended Consultation

You should consider discussing this question with your doctor or health care team.

	Printer-Friendly Page
	Email this Page