Nausea
Nausea may be caused by several things:
• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Biotherapy
• Cancer in the abdomen, liver, brain or spinal cord
• Anxiety related to cancer and cancer treatment
• Other medications
• Viruses

When nausea is expected as a side effect of treatment, we will give medicines to prevent and treat nausea, usually on a planned schedule. We strive to prevent nausea. If you get nauseated and the medicines do not work, we want you to call our office. We do not expect you to be vomiting without relief. Many treatments for nausea are available, and something else can be tried.

Postoperative nausea after you are discharged from the hospital may just be related to movement on the ride home. This usually will go away after some quiet rest. Major pelvic and abdominal surgery disturbs the digestive system and can lead to problems with nausea for some women. Usually, the digestive system is back to normal by two weeks after surgery. Women who have abdominal lymph nodes removed may have a longer recovery period. Women who have part of the colon removed may not recover normal digestive function for three to four weeks. In some cases, you may have occasional nausea, gas pains, and intermittent diarrhea and constipation. You will be given instructions about what to eat and drink, and how to minimize bowel problems, before leaving the hospital. One of the main things to keep in mind is that the digestive system needs time to heal after surgery, and that you may not be able to decrease the amount of time your body needs to heal.

While you are nauseated, there are certain things you can do to feel better, in addition to medicines:
• Take small sips of non-carbonated room temperature liquids. Taking in fluids is more important than eating at this time.
• If you feel like you would like to try eating, try very bland foods, such as crackers, cream of wheat, chicken noodle soup, broth, or pudding.
• Eat a ginger snap or drink some peppermint or chamomile tea.
• Try aromatherapy with vanilla or lavender essential oils. Essential oils have concentrated scents and small amounts can be dripped onto a tissue or cotton ball so that the scent can slowly be dispersed into the room.
• If very nauseated, place a damp, cold washcloth on the back of your neck.
• If you have abdominal swelling and cramps in addition to nausea, you should not eat, but call our office for further instructions.

Chemotherapy Medicines
Nausea
Chemotherapy room
Coping with hair loss
Chemo delivery methods