Managing nausea and other side effects of cancer treatment

3 minute read time.

Side effects are changes you might get as a result of cancer treatment.They can be mild and temporary. But sometimes they can have a bigger impact on your quality of life. The thought of side effects can be frightening at any stage of your cancer treatment, but there are many ways to help manage them.

Cancer treatments can cause a range of side effects, from excessive tiredness or sleeping difficulties to changes to memory or concentration. One of the most common side effects with many cancer treatments is nausea. This means feeling sick or having an unsettled stomach all or most of the time. It can feel very debilitating and difficult to combat. But there are treatments available and there are things you can do for yourself to help with nausea.

If you’re experiencing side effects from your treatment, order our free booklet Side effects of cancer treatment. It gives an overview of some of the common side effects and suggests ways to help you manage them. The booklet looks in detail at many side effects including reduced numbers of blood cells, nausea, hair loss, tiredness, changes to sex life, changes to fertility, and many more.

10 tips for controlling nausea

Nausea can be well controlled. Your doctors will usually prescribe anti-sickness drugs, also called anti-emetic drugs, if sickness is a possible side effect of your treatment. Tell your doctor or nurse if it doesn’t improve. There are different types of anti-sickness medicines that work in different ways. Some may work better for you than others, and often you may be given more than one type of drug.

Some anti-sickness drugs can make you constipated. Let your doctor or nurse know if this happens. Our booklet also has a section on constipation and can advise you on what might help.

If you’re struggling with nausea, here are some tips on what you can do:

Number 1  Sometimes, the smell of cooking can be overpowering. If possible, let someone else cook or prepare food for you.

Number 2 Eat cold food or food at room temperature if the smell of cooking bothers you.

Number 3  Where possible, avoid fried, fatty foods or foods with a strong smell.

Number 4 Try eating dry food, such as crackers, before you get up in the morning.

Number 5 Eat several small snacks and meals each day, and chew food well.

Number 6  Ginger can help reduce feelings of sickness – you could try a warm mug of ginger tea, ginger biscuits or crystallised ginger.

Number 7 Peppermint is also good at easing sickness and is available as a tea or sweets.

Number 8 Some complimentary therapies such as acupuncture may help but ask your doctor first. Some people find wearing acupressure wristbands helpful. You can buy these from a chemist.

Number 9  Sipping a fizzy drink can help – you can try ginger beer or ginger ale, mineral water, lemonade or soda water. Sip slowly through a straw.

Number 10 Fresh air and gentle exercise such as walking can help relieve sickness.

More helpful tips on managing nausea and other common side effects of cancer treatment can be found in our free booklet, Side effects of cancer treatment.

We're with you every step of the way

The Macmillan team is here to help. Our cancer support specialists can answer your questions, offer support, or simply listen if you need a chat. Call us free on 0808 808 00 00.

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