Chemotherapy and Nausea

Probably the biggest issue I struggle with in chemotherapy is the nausea. Just writing these words makes me feel nauseated and that's not a good thing, it means I suffer from anticipatory nausea, basically an emotional condition that induces a physical response each time I think of chemotherapy.

Chemo drugs have 1-5 rating for potential to induce nausea and vomiting. The drugs I am taking now are a 3. But other factors figure in. These are some factors that can make chemo induced nausea worse:

• Age. Children are more likely to develop nausea and vomiting than adults
• Gender. The prevalence of nausea and vomiting is higher in women
• History of nausea and vomiting. Patients with a history of motion sickness may have a lower threshold to nausea and vomiting than the rest of the population. This can be exacerbated by patient anxiety and by a prior history of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• History of heavy alcohol use. This is associated with a lower risk of nausea and vomiting.

Not mentioned here is that young women (under 50, I qualify) are also at higher risk for chemo induced nausea. I fit every category for the high risk. I really want to know why alcohol abuse puts you at a lower risk!

The clinicians who treat me give anticipatory nausea the same importance as all other nausea. While they do give me some practical suggestions to control the nausea (frequent walks, suggestions to distract myself, calming music) they also give me an ample supply of meds to treat the condition and are willing to hydrate me intravenously all I need (dehydration worsens the nausea).

Some things that have worked for me in controlling the nausea include:

• frequent, small meals. every 2 hours at least
• foods with a high water content such as melons, cucumbers and berries
• bland, low fat and cold foods
• yogurt
• frequent walks, getting out of the house, even doing laundry. Distraction.
• recently, Biotene mouth wash. Gets rid of the metallic taste and does not sting.
• nausea meds.. . but I don't like the side effects

Some of the most unexpected meds have helped me the most with the nausea. Steroids, for example, I never knew that helped nausea. Then there is what oncology nurses and chemo patients affectionately refer to as vitamin A, Ativan (a mild sedative with anti-nausea properties). We call it that because we take it prn, as needed, and some of us need it a lot. They don't know how it actually works on the nausea, but I can testify that it works well (and you can take it sublingual for a faster effect).

Many of the things that work for me are ideas passed on by friends and/or others who had chemo. I can't tell you all how much I appreciate all of your suggestions. Its nice to have company on this journey :)