Question 1

what to do if i have nausea after chemotherapy, can anyone help?

Accepted Answer

Your oncologist!: I assume you have an oncologist; almost everyone who is receiving chemotherapy does. They are most familiar not just with the chemotherapy you are receiving, but also with you! They can give you the best advice and treatment for your nausea. I hope your therapy is working well!

Question 2

how can i prevent nausea after chemotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Medication: There are many medications to prevent and treat "breakthrough nausea" following chemotheray. However, sometimes it is not possible to completely prevent it. If your current medications are not working well enough, you should discuss this with your Oncology nurse and your oncologist.

Question 3

what causes the nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Collateral damage: The simple answer is that chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells.  That's why those agents are used to treat cancer. However, the cells lining the stomach and other parts of the GI tract are also dividing at a fast rate compared to others. Those cells are also affected resulting in nausea and vomiting.

Question 4

what helps nausea the best among chemotherapy patients?

Accepted Answer

Medication!: There are excellent medications to prevent chemo-related nausea and vomiting.  Ondansetron (zofran) and aprepitant (emend) are two of the strongest.  Ativan (lorazepam) and Dexamethasone are commonly added.  Different things work for different people, and we can almost always find a combination that works for everyone.  This is a good review article:  http://www.Mayoclinic.Com/health/cancer/ca00030.

Question 5

an acquaintence of mine stopped chemotherapy due to said extreme nausea. died seven months later. what could she have done to extend her life?

Accepted Answer

No simple answer: Life is short on Earth, regardless of whether a person lives 3 days, 3000 days, or 30,000 days. It is not length of one's life that matters, but the quality of the life lived. The goal is not to live a long life, but to live a good life. Even if a person makes it all the way to age 82, that's only 30,000 days.

Question 6

why does chemotherapy cause nausea and vomiting?

Accepted Answer

It's a toxin: The brain has an area that triggers nausea and vomiting if something toxic gets in the body.  This is what prevented early humans from dying after eating poisonous berries!  chemotherapy triggers the same area of the brain, and the body tries to protect itself by vomiting.  New anti-nausea drugs are so effective because they target the "vomit center" in the brain.

Question 7

what to expect with chemotherapy?  pain, nausea, vomiting?

Accepted Answer

Expectations : Nausea should be expected.  Vomiting can occur.  Though, you should have access to plenty of medications for nausea.  Many people have flushing or an odd taste while getting chemo.  Pain would be very unusual.  There are some chemo meds that can have an allergic effect, so rash and flu-like symptoms can occur.

Question 8

why should i treat my nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Helpful to healing: Too much nausea and vomiting may allow one to be dehydrated and undernourished and to feel just plain miserable.  The last thing your body needs while fighting cancer.  To treat nausea is to also allow one to be more comfortable during such a crucial time.  There are several different regimens available, and your treating doctor will go over these with you.

Question 9

what are some natural remedies to help chemotherapy nausea?

Accepted Answer

Ginger?: Ginger can help mild nausea, although chemo-related nausea is much harder to control without medication.  Chemo stimulates the "vomit center" in the brain, and the anti-nausea drugs we have today block that site in the brain, which is why they work so well.  Accupuncture is a helpful addition to nausea treatment for some people.

Question 10

how can i help my mother deal with nausea from chemotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Encourage meds!: Nausea is horrible! thanks for helping your mother.  Hopefully her doctor gave her several medicines to try.  Make sure she tries them all.  If she can't keep them down, ask her doctor for suppositories.  If the medicines don't work, ask her doctor for others, and encourage your mom to take them even when she feels better.  We have such good meds now that no one should have nausea from chemo!

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A member asked:

What to do if i have nausea after chemotherapy, can anyone help?

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How can i prevent nausea after chemotherapy?

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What causes the nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy?

A member asked:

What helps nausea the best among chemotherapy patients?

A member asked:

An acquaintence of mine stopped chemotherapy due to said extreme nausea. died seven months later. what could she have done to extend her life?

A member asked:

Why does chemotherapy cause nausea and vomiting?

A member asked:

What to expect with chemotherapy? pain, nausea, vomiting?

A member asked:

Why should i treat my nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy?

A member asked:

What are some natural remedies to help chemotherapy nausea?

A member asked:

How can i help my mother deal with nausea from chemotherapy?

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