Vomiting and nausea in stomach cancer treatment

This is an automatically translated article.

Vomiting or nausea during treatment for stomach cancer is quite common and causes many changes in the patient's life and health. The article will provide information about complications and methods to help limit the impact of this condition on the patient's health.

1. Causes of vomiting and nausea during stomach cancer treatment

The stomach and vomiting center are stimulated when chemicals or biological therapies enter the body. This phenomenon may occur a few hours or as late as a few days after treatment for stomach cancer. It should be noted that not all chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy cause this complication.
The frequency and length of time vomiting occurs depends on factors such as the drug type, dose, and route of administration.

2. Methods to reduce vomiting and nausea when treating stomach cancer

2.1. Using antiemetics and nausea The doctor will review and decide to give the patient antiemetics based on the following conditions:
The cancer treatment the patient is taking is likely to cause vomiting and no nausea; The frequency and severity of the patient's vomiting or nausea; Which drug/method does the patient prefer; If so, how effective is it? There are many forms of antiemetics that are formulated in many different routes such as: intravenous injection, oral administration in the form of tablets or liquid, sublingual tablets, suppositories or skin patches.
If using the above drugs to prevent complications when cancer treatment does not work and makes the patient's condition not improve, the doctor can give the patient another drug or a combination of one. new medicine. In addition, the route of administration of the drug can be changed. Oral medications are usually the cheapest and most effective for stopping vomiting and nausea. In cases where the patient is unable to swallow, another route of administration may be considered.
If you find that vomiting and nausea still occur and affect your health, take the initiative to inform your doctor to use another more suitable drug.

2.2. Supportive treatment Antiemetics are the basic and commonly used treatment, but many patients who do not take medication can also improve. Adjuvant treatments can be used alone and are effective in mild cases or for the prevention of nausea. In addition, it can be used as an adjuvant along with anti-nausea and vomiting drugs for people taking cancer treatments who are likely to experience this complication. Some methods to help reduce nausea and vomiting include meditation, breathing exercises and muscle relaxation, acupuncture, acupressure, music therapy. It is important to talk to a specialist before using these methods to ensure safety.

3. What should the patient do when experiencing complications of vomiting and nausea during cancer treatment?

Vomiting often will make the body exhausted and dangerous because of dehydration, more seriously, inhaling food affects the ability to breathe. When there are symptoms of vomiting and nausea during cancer treatment, it is imperative to discuss with an oncologist for appropriate management. Common manifestations such as:
Change in eating habits; Halitosis ; There is a yellow or green foul-smelling liquid on the pillow; Feeling nauseous or having stomach pain; May increase salivation, sweating before vomiting. In case of nausea, the patient should note:
If the feeling of nausea occurs outside of a meal, do not leave the stomach empty. Divide into several meals a day, avoid eating large amounts of food at one time; Do not skip meals because when hungry, the feeling of nausea will increase; Try not to eat your favorite foods when you feel nauseous because it will make you feel bored after the treatment is over; Replenish enough water every day, divided into several times to drink with small sips. Can drink juices to get more vitamins; Suck on hard candies with a cool scent such as lemon or mint to eliminate unpleasant odors; Avoid foods that are greasy, hot, and too sweet; Rest for about an hour after a meal with an upright sitting position; It is recommended to use a ventilation fan in the kitchen to reduce the smell of food to help limit the possibility of nausea; When feeling nauseous, distract yourself with music, TV shows, or talking to others; Talk to a specialist to consider using antiemetics when necessary; Once you've taken the medication and waited for it to take effect, relax and take a deep breath.

For patients with vomiting, it should be noted:
While lying in bed, lie on your side to avoid swallowing or aspirating vomit into the lungs; Tell your doctor about your condition so that he or she can prescribe the form of medicine that is easiest for your body to tolerate, such as a sublingual or rectal tablet. Take medicine when there are signs of nausea to prevent vomiting; Let yourself vomit before you eat or drink anything. Then slowly drink a small amount of water and increase it to a level that the body can handle; Sit up straight after vomiting. You should contact your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:
Persistent abdominal pain; There is blood in the vomit; The vomit is brown like coffee grounds; Dizziness, lightheadedness after standing up; Urine is dark in color; Lose more than 2 kg within a week or 4-5 kg ​​in a month; Vomiting more than 1-2 times/day. In summary, vomiting and nausea are among the complications of gastric cancer treatment. Based on the patient's condition, the doctor will consider the use of appropriate antiemetic drugs and supportive treatment for this condition.

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