• You will be given an antinausea drug with your treatment. This should prevent nausea and vomiting (upset stomach) for 8-12 hours. 
• It is better to prevent nausea before it occurs as it is more difficult to treat nausea once it starts. If you are in doubt it is better to take your antinausea medication(s). 
• Lying down or resting quietly in a chair may help if nausea is worse when you are up and active. 
• If vomiting occurs, drink plenty of fluids (8-10 cups per day) to avoid dehydration.

To help your medication be most effective:

• Use your antinausea medication regularly for the first day (24 hours) after your treatment. In some cases you should continue regular use for up to 3-5 days. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will advise you if this is necessary. How long you use it will depend on your treatment and how you react to it. 
• Most antinausea medications taken by mouth will take 30-60 minutes to become effective. 
• Have your prescription for the antinausea medication(s) filled at a pharmacy right after treatment, even if you don't feel sick. Sometimes it may take several hours before nausea develops, or the car ride home may cause a problem.

Food choices to help control nausea:

• Nausea can be controlled with medications and by some adjustments to your food selection. The following suggestions will help you to control nausea and maintain an adequate fluid and food intake. 
• Try to sip fluids at frequent intervals. An adequate fluid intake will help keep you well hydrated and settle your stomach. Fluids that are generally well tolerated include: carbonated beverages - ginger ale (soft drinks are sometimes tolerated better after they go flat), soda water; clear soup - broth, consomme; milk - try skim milk, chocolate milk; water. 
• Certain foods have a high fluid content and will add to your fluid intake. Some of these foods include jello, popsicles, sherbet, ice milk, custard, pudding, yogurt, cooked cereal, ice cream. 
• Nibble often. You may feel better with a small amount of solid food in your stomach. To start with, nibble every 15 minutes. Try dry starchy foods such as soda crackers, dry cereal, plain rice, toast, melba toast, bread sticks, instant noodles. You may find it helpful to have a cracker about 10 minutes before getting out of bed in the morning. 
• As nausea settles, you can introduce a greater variety of fluids and foods and increase your portion sizes. Try to progress to eating six times per day, with beverages in between. Some nourishing foods that are generally well tolerated are cereal with milk, noodle or rice soup, cottage cheese, canned fruit, cheese and crackers, 1/2 sandwich. 
• Avoid food preparation. The smell of food cooking often makes nausea worse, therefore, try to avoid the kitchen when cooking is being done. Let hot foods cool to lukewarm before serving. If you are doing your own food preparation, select foods that can be eaten cold, or buy food ready-to-eat.

If nausea remains a problem despite regular use of antinausea medication and following the tips in this handout, let your nurse, doctor or radiation therapy technologist know. You should contact your doctor immediately if you are experiencing diarrhea or cramping along with the nausea.

Further advice on coping with nausea, lack of appetite, or other eating problems is available from your nutritionist.

NOTE: The section on "Food choices to help control nausea" is reprinted from B.C. Cancer Agency Nutrition Services, Pamphlet 1 (Form #FRC-55 Revised January/91)