Causes
Anticipatory Nausea and Vomiting
Acute Nausea and Vomiting
Delayed Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and Vomiting in Advanced Cancer
Radiation Therapy and Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea is
controlled by a part of the central nervous system that controls involuntary bodily
functions. Vomiting is a reflex controlled by a vomiting center in the brain.
Vomiting can be stimulated by various triggers, such as smell, taste, anxiety,
pain, motion, poor blood flow, irritation, or changes in the body caused by inflammation.
The most
common causes of nausea and vomiting are:
Nausea
and vomiting are more likely to occur if the patient:
Anticipatory Nausea and Vomiting
Anticipatory nausea and vomiting occur after the patient has undergone several cancer treatments. It occurs in response to triggers, such as
odors in the therapy room. For example, a person who begins chemotherapy and smells an alcohol swab at the same time, may later experience
nausea and vomiting at the smell of alcohol alone. Patients usually do not experience nausea and/or vomiting before or during chemotherapy until after they have received several courses of treatment. The following factors may help predict which patients are more
likely to experience anticipatory nausea and vomiting:
- Being younger than 50 years.
- Being female.
- The severity of nausea and vomiting after the last chemotherapy session.
- Feeling warm or hot after the last chemotherapy session.
- A history of motion sickness.
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded after chemotherapy.
- Sweating after the last chemotherapy session.
- Experiencing weakness after the last chemotherapy session.
- Having a high level of anxiety.
- The type of chemotherapy (some are more likely to cause nausea and vomiting).
- Having morning sickness during pregnancy.
Acute Nausea and Vomiting
Chemotherapy is the most common treatment-related cause of nausea and vomiting.
The drug, dose, schedule of administration, route, and factors that are unique
to the patient all determine how often nausea occurs and how severe it will be.
Usually, these symptoms can be prevented or controlled.
Acute nausea and vomiting are more likely to occur in patients who:
- Have experienced nausea and vomiting after previous chemotherapy sessions.
- Are female.
- Drink little or no alcohol.
- Are young.
Delayed Nausea and Vomiting
Delayed nausea and vomiting occurs more than 24 hours after chemotherapy.
It is more likely to occur in patients who:
Drugs to prevent nausea and vomiting may be given alone or in combinations to
patients who are receiving chemotherapy.
Nausea and Vomiting in Advanced Cancer
Patients who have advanced
cancer commonly experience chronic nausea and vomiting, which can significantly impair quality of life. Nausea and
vomiting related to advanced cancer may be caused by the following:
Radiation Therapy and Nausea and Vomiting
Radiation therapy may also cause nausea and vomiting, especially in patients
who are undergoing radiation to the GI tract (particularly the small intestine and stomach) or brain. The risk for nausea and
vomiting increases as the dose of radiation and area being irradiated increase. Nausea and vomiting associated with radiation therapy usually occurs
one-half hour to several hours after treatment. Symptoms may improve on days the
patient does not undergo radiation therapy.
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