Nutrition & Cancer - Nutritional Management of Nausea / Vomiting

Nutritional Management of Nausea / Vomiting

Nutritional management of treatment side effects:

There is more to nutrition during cancer and cancer therapy than getting enough calories and protein. The foods you choose also help you cope with side effects, such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chewing and swallowing difficulties, and taste changes.

As each person's individual medical profile and diagnosis is different, so is his/her reaction to treatment. Side effects may be severe, mild, or absent. Be sure to discuss with your cancer care team any/all possible side effects of treatment before the treatment begins.

Nutritional management of nausea and vomiting:

If you have nausea and vomiting, choose foods that are easy to chew, swallow, and digest, such as the following:

toast, crackers, and pretzels
yogurt
sherbet
angel food cake
cream of wheat, rice, oatmeal, or grits
boiled potatoes, rice, or noodles
skinned chicken that is baked or broiled, not fried
canned peaches or other soft, bland fruits, and vegetables
clear liquids, such as bouillon, clear carbonated beverages, apple/cranberry/grape juice, plain gelatin, Popsicles®, tea, and water
ice chips
carbonated drinks

Try to avoid the following:

fatty, greasy, or fried foods
very sweet foods, such as candy or cookies, or cake with icing
spicy hot foods
strong odor foods

Also consider the following to reduce side effects:

Eat small amounts, often and slowly.
Eat more of the foods that appeal to you.
Eat in a place that is comfortable, avoiding stuffy places that are too warm or have cooking odors.
Drink a half hour before or after meals but not with your meals.
Drink slowly or sip liquids throughout the day. Use a straw if necessary.
Eating your food at room temperature or cooler, rather than hot.
Do not force yourself to eat foods you normally like to eat because it may cause you to dislike them later when you feel better.
Rest after you eat.
For morning nausea try eating crackers or toast before you get up.
Wear loose fitting clothes.
If you feel nauseated during treatment wait a couple of hours before eating.
Keep a diary of when you feel nausea, how long it lasted, what you ate, and where you were. Your physician or nurse may need the information to help you better manage your symptoms.

If you vomit, do not eat or drink anything more until the vomiting is under control. Then try small amounts of clear liquids. Try taking the liquids using the following guidelines:

Drink 1 teaspoonful every 10 minutes.
Gradually increase the amount to 1 tablespoon every 20 minutes.
Then try 2 tablespoons every 30 minutes.
Continue by switching to full-liquid or soft foods such as: fruit juices and nectars, milk, cream, margarine, pudding, plain Jell-O®, potatoes pureed in soup, cooked cereal, ice cream, custard, strained or blenderized soup, and vegetable juice.

Be sure to tell your physician, nurse, or registered dietitian if you have nausea or vomiting because there are a number of different things they may recommend for you.

It is important during cancer treatment to get enough calories, protein, and nutrients, and it may be especially hard if you have nausea and vomiting. If you find you cannot get enough calories in a day, your physician may recommend commercially prepared liquid nutritional products such as Boost®, Ensure®, ReSource®, or NuBasics® for a short time until you feel better.

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