Chemotherapy nausea and vomiting: Prevention is best defense

Not everyone has nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy. Learn if you're at risk and what you and your healthcare team can do to avoid these side effects.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Often these side effects can be prevented or controlled.

Who's at risk of chemotherapy nausea and vomiting?

Whether you'll have nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy depends on:

  • What chemotherapy medicines you receive and their dosage.
  • Whether you receive other cancer treatments during your chemotherapy treatment.
  • Whether you've had nausea and vomiting in the past.

Whether a medicine will cause nausea and vomiting also depends on how much you receive. Some medicines may be less likely to cause side effects at lower doses. Ask your healthcare team if your treatment is likely to cause nausea and vomiting.

How are medicines used to prevent chemotherapy nausea and vomiting?

Most people having chemotherapy receive anti-nausea medicines to prevent nausea and vomiting. That's because nausea and vomiting can be hard to control once they start. Nausea and vomiting can make you feel miserable, very tired and upset. These side effects also can make you feel less willing to stick to your treatment schedule.

There are many medicines to prevent nausea and vomiting. Which medicines you receive depends on your unique situation.

Anti-nausea medicines can be given before, during and after chemotherapy treatments. After treatment you may continue taking medicine on a set schedule to prevent nausea and vomiting. You also may receive medicine that you can take in case you feel nauseated.

What can I do to prevent chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting?

In addition to the medicines your healthcare team gives you, you can take steps to lower your risk of nausea and vomiting. For example:

  • Eat small meals. Have small meals throughout the day rather than eating fewer, larger meals. If possible, don't skip meals. Eating a light meal a few hours before treatment also may help.
  • Eat what appeals to you. But it's best to avoid foods that are sweet, fried or fatty. Cool foods also may smell better and make you less nauseated.

    Cook and freeze meals before treatment so you don't have to cook when you're not feeling well. Or have someone else cook for you.

  • Drink lots of fluids. Try cool beverages such as water, unsweetened fruit juices, tea or ginger ale that's lost its carbonation. It may help to drink small amounts throughout the day instead of larger drinks less often.
  • Avoid unpleasant smells. Pay attention to smells that trigger nausea for you and avoid bad smells. Fresh air may help.
  • Make yourself comfortable. Rest after eating. But don't lie flat for a couple of hours. Try wearing loose clothing and keep busy with other activities.
  • Use relaxation techniques. Try meditation and deep breathing.
  • Consider complementary therapies. Examples include acupuncture and aromatherapy. They may help you feel better when used along with your anti-nausea medicines. Tell your healthcare team if you're interested in trying these therapies. They may be able to suggest someone who works with people getting cancer treatments.

These self-care measures may help prevent nausea and vomiting. But they can't take the place of anti-nausea medicines.

If you begin feeling nauseated despite anti-nausea medicines, call your healthcare team. They may prescribe additional medicines. Your treatment will depend on what's causing your symptoms.

Get the latest breast cancer information from Mayo Clinic delivered to your inbox.

Sign up for free and receive the latest on breast cancer treatment, care and management.

We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.

April 05, 2024 See more In-depth

See also

  1. Acute lymphocytic leukemia
  2. Acute myelogenous leukemia
  3. Adenocarcinoma: How this type of cancer affects prognosis
  4. Adjuvant therapy for cancer
  5. Anal cancer
  6. Atypical cells: Are they cancer?
  7. B-cell lymphoma
  8. Beating Ovarian Cancer
  9. Biliary tract cancer: Should I get a second opinion?
  10. Biopsy procedures
  11. Bladder cancer
  12. Bladder Cancer
  13. What is bladder cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  14. Bladder cancer FAQs
  15. Bladder cancer treatment options
  16. Blood Cancers and Disorders
  17. Bone cancer
  18. Bone metastasis
  19. Brain tumor
  20. Brain Tumor
  21. What is a brain tumor? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  22. Brain tumor FAQs
  23. Breast cancer
  24. Breast Cancer
  25. Breast cancer chemoprevention
  26. Breast Cancer Education Tool
  27. Common questions about breast cancer treatment
  28. Infographic: Breast Cancer Risk
  29. Breast cancer staging
  30. Breast cancer types
  31. Dr. Wallace Video
  32. Dr. Mark Truty (surgery, MN) better outcomes with chemo
  33. Burkitt lymphoma
  34. CA 125 test: A screening test for ovarian cancer?
  35. Cancer
  36. Cancer
  37. Cancer blood tests
  38. Myths about cancer causes
  39. Infographic: Cancer Clinical Trials Offer Many Benefits
  40. Cancer diagnosis: 11 tips for coping
  41. Cancer-related fatigue
  42. Cancer pain: Relief is possible
  43. Cancer risk: What the numbers mean
  44. Cancer surgery
  45. Cancer survival rate
  46. Cancer survivors: Care for your body after treatment
  47. Cancer survivors: Late effects of cancer treatment
  48. Cancer survivors: Managing your emotions after cancer treatment
  49. Cancer treatment myths
  50. Carcinoid syndrome
  51. Castleman disease
  52. Cervical cancer
  53. What is cervical cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  54. Cervical cancer FAQs
  55. Cervical cysts: Can they be cancerous?
  56. Cervical dysplasia: Is it cancer?
  57. Chemo targets
  58. Chemotherapy
  59. Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment
  60. Chemotherapy and sex: Is sexual activity OK during treatment?
  61. Chemotherapy side effects: A cause of heart disease?
  62. Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer)
  63. Chondrosarcoma
  64. Choroid plexus carcinoma
  65. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
  66. Chronic myelogenous leukemia
  67. Collecting Pennies Through the Pain
  68. Colon cancer
  69. Colon Cancer Family Registry
  70. Colon cancer screening: At what age can you stop?
  71. Colon cancer screening
  72. Colorectal Cancer
  73. Curcumin: Can it slow cancer growth?
  74. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
  75. Cancer-related diarrhea
  76. Dragon Boats and Breast Cancer
  77. Early-onset colon cancer
  78. Eating during cancer treatment: Tips to make food tastier
  79. Embryonal tumors
  80. Endometrial cancer
  81. Ependymoma
  82. Esophageal Cancer
  83. Esophageal cancer
  84. Ewing sarcoma
  85. Fertility preservation
  86. Floor of the mouth cancer
  87. Follicular lymphoma
  88. Frequent sex: Does it protect against prostate cancer?
  89. Gallbladder cancer
  90. Gallbladder polyps: Can they be cancerous?
  91. Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer
  92. Genetic testing for breast cancer: Psychological and social impact
  93. GI Stents
  94. Glioblastoma
  95. Glowing Cancer Surgery
  96. Gynecologic Cancers
  97. Hairy cell leukemia
  98. Head and Neck Cancer
  99. Head and Neck Cancer Transoral Surgery
  100. Head and neck cancers
  101. Heart cancer: Is there such a thing?
  102. Hepatocellular carcinoma
  103. HER2-positive breast cancer: What is it?
  104. High-dose vitamin C: Can it kill cancer cells?
  105. Hilar cholangiocarcinoma
  106. Hodgkin lymphoma (Hodgkin disease)
  107. Hodgkin's vs. non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: What's the difference?
  108. Inflammatory breast cancer
  109. Invasive lobular carcinoma
  110. Is a clinical trial for biliary tract cancer right for me?
  111. Leukemia
  112. Liver cancer
  113. Liver Cancer
  114. What is liver cancer? An expert explains
  115. Liver cancer FAQs
  116. Living with biliary tract cancer
  117. Living with Brain Tumors
  118. Long Term Brain Cancer Survivor
  119. Low blood counts
  120. Lung cancer
  121. Infographic: Lung Cancer
  122. Lung Cancer
  123. Lung nodules: Can they be cancerous?
  124. Magic mouthwash
  125. Male breast cancer
  126. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors
  127. Mantle cell lymphoma
  128. Marginal zone lymphoma
  129. What is breast cancer? An expert explains
  130. Measles Virus as a Cancer Fighter
  131. Melanoma
  132. Melanoma and Skin Cancer
  133. Melanoma pictures to help identify skin cancer
  134. Merkel cell carcinoma
  135. Mesothelioma
  136. Metastatic (stage 4) prostate cancer
  137. Monoclonal antibody drugs
  138. Mort Crim and Cancer
  139. Mouth cancer
  140. What is mouth cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  141. Mouth cancer FAQs
  142. Mouth sores caused by cancer treatment: How to cope
  143. Multiple myeloma
  144. Infographic: Multiple Myeloma
  145. Myelofibrosis
  146. Myelofibrosis
  147. Myxofibrosarcoma
  148. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
  149. Neuroblastoma
  150. Neuroendocrine tumors
  151. Neuroendocrine Tumors NETs
  152. New immunotherapy approved for metastatic bladder cancer
  153. No appetite? How to get nutrition during cancer treatment
  154. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  155. Oligodendroglioma
  156. Osteosarcoma
  157. Living with an ostomy
  158. Ovarian cancer
  159. Ovarian cancer: Still possible after hysterectomy?
  160. Paget's disease of the breast
  161. Palliative care for biliary tract cancer
  162. Pancreatic cancer
  163. Pancreatic Cancer
  164. What is pancreatic cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  165. Infographic: Pancreatic Cancer: Minimally Invasive Surgery
  166. Pancreatic Cancer Survivor
  167. Infographic: Pancreatic Cancers-Whipple
  168. Pap test: Can it detect ovarian cancer?
  169. Paulas story A team approach to battling breast cancer
  170. Peripheral nerve tumors
  171. Peritoneal carcinomatosis
  172. Pheochromocytoma
  173. Pineoblastoma
  174. Pink Sisters
  175. Precision medicine: A new way to treat biliary cancers
  176. Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC)
  177. Prostate Cancer
  178. Prostate cancer
  179. Prostate cancer: Does PSA level affect prognosis?
  180. What is prostate cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  181. Prostate cancer prevention
  182. Prostate cancer FAQs
  183. Punk Guitarist Survives Brain Tumor
  184. Rectal cancer
  185. Recurrent breast cancer
  186. Retinoblastoma
  187. Robotic bladder surgery
  188. Salivary gland tumors
  189. Schwannomatosis
  190. Scientists propose a breast cancer drug for some bladder cancer patients
  191. Scrotal masses
  192. Self-Image During Cancer
  193. Skin cancer
  194. Infographic: Skin Cancer
  195. Skin Cancer Reconstruction
  196. Skull base tumors
  197. Small cell, large cell cancer: What this means
  198. Soft tissue sarcoma
  199. Spinal cord tumor
  200. Spinal tumor
  201. Stomach cancer
  202. What is stomach cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  203. Stomach cancer FAQs
  204. Super Survivor Conquers Cancer
  205. Testicular cancer
  206. Testicular microlithiasis
  207. The Long Race Beating Cancer
  208. Throat cancer
  209. Thyroid cancer
  210. Thyroid Cancer
  211. What is thyroid cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  212. Thyroid cancer FAQs
  213. Treatment options for biliary tract cancer
  214. Tumor vs. cyst: What's the difference?
  215. Types of prostate cancer: Common and rare forms
  216. Vaginal cancer
  217. Vertebral tumor
  218. Melanoma — Early stage and advanced melanoma
  219. How cancer spreads
  220. PICC line placement
  221. Skin cancer — How skin cancer develops
  222. Vulvar cancer
  223. Weight Loss After Breast Cancer
  224. What is biliary tract cancer?
  225. When cancer returns: How to cope with cancer recurrence
  226. Wilms tumor
  227. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome