| Frequently
Asked Questions View PDF version (Adobe® PDF) 
What are nausea and vomiting?
What causes nausea and vomiting, or emesis?
Why do chemotherapy and radiation therapy
cause nausea and vomiting?
What is Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting?
Are some people more likely to have nausea
and vomiting from cancer treatment than others?
Do some treatments cause more nausea and vomiting
than others?
What can I do to stop nausea and vomiting,
or emesis?
Is nausea and vomiting serious?
Will I be able to work during my cancer treatment?
What are nausea
and vomiting?
Nausea refers to the queasy feeling in your throat or your stomach.
Vomiting is when you actually get rid of the contents of your stomach
through your mouth. Sometimes the combination of nausea and vomiting
is called emesis.
What causes
nausea and vomiting, or emesis?
Lots of things cause emesis, including food that is hard to digest,
some medications, anesthesia, pregnancy or an illness, such as a
virus. It can also be caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
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Why do chemotherapy
and radiation therapy cause nausea and vomiting?
Because chemotherapy and radiation therapy are so powerful, they
can sometimes damage healthy cells. When this happens, your body
sends a message to your brain warning it that something disruptive
is in your body. This sets off a chain reaction that triggers the
nausea and vomiting response. Kytril can help
block the signals that cause nausea and vomiting.
What is Post-Operative
Nausea and Vomiting?
Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) is the queasy and unpleasant
feeling in the stomach that many people often feel after undergoing
a surgical procedure. This type of nausea and vomiting affects
20% to 30% of people depending on the type of procedure
and anesthetic used. Not only is post-operative nausea and vomiting
distressing, it can also lead to complications after surgery. Kytril
can help block the signals that cause nausea and
vomiting.
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Are some people
more likely to have nausea and vomiting from cancer treatment than
others?
Yes, everyone responds differently to treatments, and some people
do not have any nausea or vomiting at all. There are a variety of
factors that can affect whether you will experience nausea and vomiting,
including:
- type of chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatment
- age
- gender
- a history of nausea and vomiting
Speak to your doctor about these and other factors. And click
here to take the Nfactor Self-Assessment to determine your risk
of emesis.
Do some treatments
cause more nausea and vomiting than others?
Certain treatments have a higher likelihood of causing nausea and
vomiting than others. However, even the treatments with a high risk
of nausea and vomiting may not cause every person who receives them
to feel nauseated or vomit.
As an example, Total Body Radiation (TBI) will raise the risk of
experiencing nausea and vomiting. The risk is also increased if
radiation therapy is given to the digestive system, particularly
the stomach or small intestines.
Patients who receive both chemotherapy and radiation, or who receive
combinations of some chemotherapy drugs, are also at a higher risk
than patients receiving only one of the treatments or one medication.
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What
can I do to stop nausea and vomiting, or emesis?
If you are being treated for cancer with chemotherapy or radiation
therapy, you can talk to your doctor about Kytril. Kytril is available
only by prescription and is designed to prevent the nausea and
vomiting that can sometimes occur with chemotherapy or radiation
therapy treatments. Click here for more information
about Kytril.
You can also try eating bland foods, drinking plenty of cool, clear
liquids, wearing loose-fitting clothes, using relaxation techniques
and making yourself as comfortable as possible. Click
here for more tips on how to prevent nausea and vomiting.
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Is nausea and
vomiting serious?
It may not seem as important as the cancer you are battling, but
do not underestimate nausea and vomiting--they can be very serious.
Call your doctor if nausea and vomiting last more than 24 hours,
if you are confused, if you are not urinating very often or if you
have a dry mouth or sunken eyes. These can be signs of severe dehydration.
Besides the physical effects, nausea and vomiting can also be emotionally
upsetting. Emesis can make you anxious or depressed, interrupt your
daily routine or, worse still, make you want to postpone or stop
your cancer treatments. This is why it is so important to take nausea
and vomiting seriously. Talk to your healthcare professional about
treating your nausea and vomiting with Kytril. For tips
on talking with your doctor, click here.
Will I be able
to work during my cancer treatment?
Many people are able to continue their normal work activities during
cancer treatments. Consider scheduling your treatments at the end
of the day or right before the weekend to minimize interference
with work schedules. You may want to speak with your employer about your needs during
this time.
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