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Nutrition for the Person With Cancer During Treatment

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Swallowing problems

Nausea

A person can have nausea with or without vomiting. If it is caused by chemo, nausea can happen on the day you get your treatment and can last for a few days – depending on what drugs you get. If you are having radiation therapy to the belly, chest, brain, or pelvis, nausea can start shortly after your treatment and last for several hours. Nausea and vomiting can have other causes, too.

Be sure to tell your doctor or nurse if you feel nauseous or are vomiting because there are medicines that can help. These medicines should be taken on a regular schedule, or around the clock, as prescribed by your doctor. And if a certain medicine does not work, your doctor or nurse may be able to recommend another one. It may take a few tries to find the medicines that work best for you.

What to do

  • Eat 6 to 8 snacks or small meals a day, instead of 3 large meals.
  • Eat dry foods, like crackers, toast, dry cereals, or bread sticks, when you wake up and every few hours during the day.
  • Eat foods that do not have a strong odor.
  • Eat cool foods instead of hot or spicy foods.
  • Avoid foods that are overly sweet, greasy, fried, or spicy, like rich desserts and French fries.
  • If you need to rest, sit up or recline with your head raised for at least an hour after eating.
  • Sip clear liquids frequently to prevent dehydration. Clear liquids include broth, sport drinks, water, juice, gelatin, and popsicles.
  • Ask your doctor about medicines to prevent or stop nausea.
  • Try bland, soft, easy-to-digest foods on scheduled treatment days. Foods like Cream of Wheat and chicken noodle soup with saltine crackers may settle the stomach better than heavy meals.
  • Avoid eating in a room that is warm, or that has cooking odors or other smells. Cook outside on the grill or use boiling bags to reduce cooking odors.
  • Suck on hard candy, like peppermint or lemon, if there is a bad taste in your mouth.
  • If you are vomiting, dehydration can become a problem. You will need to drink clear liquids as often as possible during this time. After you have vomited, rinse your mouth, wait for about 30 minutes, then try to drink sips of a clear liquid like apple juice, cranberry juice, flat soda, or broth, or take bites of frozen flavored ice.

    • What to eat or not eat on days that you have nausea*

     

      Eat

      Foods that may cause problems

      High protein

      Boiled or baked meat, fish, and poultry; cold meat or fish salad

      Eggs

      Cream soups made with low-fat milk

      Non-fat yogurt

      Fatty and fried meats, like sausage or bacon

      Fried eggs

      Milk shakes (unless made with low-fat milk or ice cream)

      Breads, cereals, rice, and pasta

      Saltines, soda crackers, bread, toast, cold cereal, English muffins, bagels

      Plain noodles, rice

      Doughnuts, pastries, waffles, pancakes, muffins

      Fruits and vegetables

      Potatoes (baked, boiled, or mashed)

      Juices

      Canned or fresh fruits, vegetables as tolerated (do not eat if appetite is poor or nausea is severe)

      Potato chips, French fries, hash browns

      Breaded, fried, or creamed vegetables; vegetables with strong odor

      Drinks, desserts, and other foods

      Cold fruit-ades, decaffeinated soft drinks, iced tea, sports drinks

      Sherbet, fruit-flavored gelatin

      Angel food cake, sponge cake; vanilla wafers

      Pudding (made with low-fat milk)

      Popsicles, juice bars, fruit ices

      Pretzels

      Butter or margarine in small amounts, fat-skimmed gravy

      Salt, cinnamon, spices as tolerated

      Alcohol

      Coffee

      Pie, ice cream, rich cakes

      Spicy salad dressings

      Olives

      Cream

      Pepper, chili powder, onion, hot sauce, seasoning mixtures

    *Adapted from Eldridge B, and Hamilton KK, Editors, Management of Nutrition Impact Symptoms in Cancer and Educational Handouts. Chicago, IL: American Dietetic Association; 2004.
    Last Medical Review: 10/06/2011
    Last Revised: 10/06/2011

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