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| Nausea and Vomiting |
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Nausea or vomiting can be caused by eating something that disagrees with you, by cancer itself, or by radiation or chemotherapy treatments for cancer. Nausea and vomiting vary widely and some people receiving cancer treatments may never have these symptoms. For others, just thinking about going to the treatments for cancer can cause nausea or vomiting. Frequent vomiting, however, can be dangerous if it leads to dehydration or to breathing in 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
- Try bland foods, such as dry toast and crackers
- If you have nausea only between meals, eat frequent, small meals, and snacks at bedtime
- Try popsicles, gelatin, or cold clear liquids sipped slowly, such as ginger ale
- Find foods that you like
- Serve fish and chicken if the person you are caring for develops a distaste for red meat and meat broths, which is common in people with cancer
- Eat foods with pleasant aromas, such as lemon drops or mints
- Eat food cold or at room temperature to decrease its smell and taste
- Ask the doctor about anti-nausea medications
- If nausea occurs in anticipation of a visit to the doctor, consider hypnosis or other relaxation therapies to lessen nausea
- Rest comfortably in a quiet environment
- Try to rest quietly for at least an hour after each meal
- Distract yourself with soft music, a favorite television program, or company
- Try to relax and take slow deep breaths when you feel nauseous
What To Do For Vomiting
- If you are in bed, lie on your side so the vomit will not be inhaled or swallowed
- Request medications be prescribed in suppository form
- Take liquids in the form of ice chips or frozen juice chips that can be munched on slowly
Do Not
- Assume nausea or vomiting always follow chemotherapy and radiation therapy
- Force yourself to eat or drink when you are nauseated or vomiting
- Lie flat on your back
- Eat foods that are sweet, fatty, salty, or spicy, or have strong odors
- Have unnecessary stimulation or excitement
- Eat for 4 to 8 hours if you are vomiting often. After that time, start to try clear liquids.
- Take only clear liquids for more than 2 days in a row
Call The Doctor About Any Of The Following Symptoms
- Inhalation or swallowed vomited material
- Vomiting more than 3 times an hour for 3 or more hours
- Blood or material that looks like coffee grounds in your vomit
- Inability to consume more than 4 cups of liquid or ice chips in a day or inability to eat more substantial foods for more than 2 days
- Inability to take medications
- Weakness or dizziness
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