Nausea and vomiting are serious side effects of cancer chemotherapy that can cause significant negative impacts on your quality of life and your ability to tolerate an already difficult cancer therapy.
Despite advances in the prevention and management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, these side effects can be the most distressing.
If you're undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy or targeted therapy, you may be using another medication to prevent and manage your chemo-induced nausea.
However, many antinausea medications can cause side effects that can be worse than the nausea itself. Below we've put together 10 natural ways that you can prevent and manage your nausea from chemo.
Who is at risk of chemotherapy nausea?
The severity and frequency of chemotherapy-induced nausea can depend on a few things.
- The type and amount of chemotherapy drugs you receive
- Whether you receive other cancer treatments like radiation during your chemo treatment
- Your personal history with nausea and/or vomiting
Not everyone reacts to chemotherapy in the same way. Certain factors may make you more vulnerable to treatment-related nausea and vomiting.
You may also be more likely to experience nausea if any of the following apply to you:
- You're a woman
- You're younger than 50
- You've had nausea and vomiting with previous treatments
- You have a history of motion sickness
- You experience anxiety frequently
- You experienced morning sickness during pregnancy
- You tend to vomit when you're sick
- You have a history of drinking little or no alcohol
How to prevent and manage your nausea naturally
- Drink small amounts throughout the day. Drinking large beverages all at once can cause feelings of nausea. Take small sips, and avoid beverages that are extremely hot or cold. Room temperature drinks are the easiest to tolerate.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Both can be triggers for nausea.
- Avoid beverages close to meals. Save your drinks for 30 minutes before or after your meals.
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals. Snack throughout the day instead of eating three large meals. This will avoid bloating which can make nausea more likely.
- Avoid being hungry. Snacking throughout the day will prevent hunger and keep nausea at bay.
- Avoid foods with strong smells. Smell can be a powerful trigger for nausea, keep your foods bland or lightly flavoured.
- Keep track of agreeable foods. Remove the guesswork and keep a note on your fridge of foods that you easily tolerate.
- Avoid tight clothing. Pants or shirts that are tight around the waist can cause nausea. Break out the sweatpants and other loungewear to stay comfy and nausea-free.
- Eat slowly. Eating quickly can cause you to swallow a lot of air with your food, which can cause bloating and nausea. Chew thoroughly and eat your meal slowly.
- Avoid lying down after eating. You digestive system works best when you're upright. Refrain from lying down 30 minutes after eating to give your stomach a chance to do its job.
As always, consult with you doctor regarding your nausea
[ Source: Canadian Cancer Society & Mayo Clinic ]