There’s no denying that cancer is a major health concern, but what’s less well-known is that it can affect your wellness with nausea. Chemotherapy is the number one cause of nausea in cancer patients, as it releases drugs used to destroy cancer cells which are also toxic to healthy cells in the digestive tract, as well as releasing chemicals into your digestive tract that eventually stimulate the portion of your brain that controls vomiting and nausea. Plus, radiation therapy and other medications similarly affect your wellbeing, as well as the constipation you experience as a result of your cancer treatment. So, how can you prevent cancer-related nausea?
1. Nausea medications: As nausea is the number one reason for chemo patients giving up treatment, doctors are often quick to prescribe drugs to prevent nausea and vomiting. These drugs are known as anti-emetics and they regulate your brain chemicals so that you’re less inclined to feel nauseous. Your doctor is likely to give you these drugs before you start chemo, and you may take the treatment for several hours or days after each dose of chemo. Prevention is the best treatment for cancer-related nausea and vomiting, so it’s important to get proactive early on.
2. Anxiety medications: According to Redwing Keyssar, the coordinator of a palliative care programme in San Francisco, anxiety can also play a key role in triggering nausea. The reason for this is unknown by wellness experts, but worrying about feeling nauseated can actually make it more likely that you will feel sick, and so this begins a vicious cycle. Keyssar recommends that you speak to your doctor about medication to treat anxiety.
3. Alternative approaches: In combination with your anti-nausea medications, treatment by an herbalist specialising in Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) can make a big difference in reducing your instances of nausea and vomiting and strengthening your body to withstand chemotherapy. A recent study, published in the Annals of Oncology, found that CHM helped to significantly reduce nausea among cancer patients treated with CHM.
4. Small meals: Your food should be prepared in small, easy-to-serve portions, and you should aim to eat many small meals throughout the day rather than three large ones. Foods that are high in carbs, such as crackers and toast, can help to settle your stomach and move through your digestive system quickly. You might like to keep snacks near your bed so that you can start your day with a few bites. Another good idea is to have jars of nuts, dried fruit, small crackers, and other snacks around the house, and to eat a handful whenever you can manage it.
5. Avoid unpleasant smells: Even if you’re in the prime of health, a bad smell can make you feel incredibly nauseas. This feeling becomes magnified when you’re undergoing chemotherapy, so take steps to remove strong odours where possible. Ask the person taking care of you to move the rubbish bins to the garage and put the cat litter downstairs, and park at the curb so you don’t have to smell exhaust in the garage. Food-related smells can also set you off and make it difficult to eat, so stay away from the kitchen – outside in the fresh air, if possible – while food is being prepared. Avoid smelly foods like fish, and keep meals cool as hot foods tend to have a stronger odour.
6. Rest after meals: Activity slows your digestion which can make your nausea worse, so take a rest after eating. Don’t lie flat on your back as this can cause nausea and heart burn. Instead, sit up or lie with your back and shoulders propped up with pillows, and wear loose clothing in a cool room with plenty of fresh air.