
MSK Nurse Leader Corey Russell speaks with a patient concerned about nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy.
Nausea and vomiting are among the most dreaded side effects of undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. Both reactions not only drain energy and sap appetite but also can dehydrate and weaken people to the point that low blood pressure, dizziness, and falling become serious risks — tempting some to stop following their prescribed regimens altogether.
Times have changed, however, says Memorial Sloan Kettering Nurse Leader Corey Russell, who has helped patients manage chemotherapy side effects for more than a decade.
Since arriving at MSK in 2007, Mr. Russell has taken part in the hospital’s efforts to implement standards for preventing chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting established by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the American Society for Clinical Oncology, and other organizations.
“In the past, few medications were available to treat nausea,” he explains. “Now we better understand the mechanisms that trigger nausea and vomiting, as well as the risk of these side effects with specific agents. These insights enable clinicians to differentiate between different types of nausea.”
In other words, “there is no longer a need for most people to suffer.” According to Mr. Russell, “we can prevent as much as 70 to 80 percent of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting by using the right medicine at the right time.”
Greater Insight, Better Solutions
With today’s more nuanced understanding of chemotherapy agents, says Mr. Russell, “We are able to prescribe drugs that target certain receptors in the body and specifically address the three primary types of chemotherapy-related nausea: anticipatory, acute, and delayed.”
Preventing Anticipatory Nausea
More psychosomatic than actual, this type of nausea often relates to what people anticipate might happen based on what they’ve seen or heard. Sometimes, says Mr. Russell, the reaction occurs because a person’s nausea was previously not well controlled.
To treat it, the antianxiety drug lorazepam (Ativan®) can help. For many people, reassurance and coaching on ways to create a calming environment through diversion techniques such as music therapy and meditation can also help.
Preventing Acute, Fast-Acting Nausea
Triggered by the use of specific chemotherapy agents, acute nausea — which tends to start within 24 hours of receiving the agent — can often be alleviated with customized, fast-acting drugs such as ondansetron (Zofran®) and dexamethasone (Decadron®). These are the most commonly used treatments for acute nausea today, Mr. Russell says, but others are continuously being introduced.
Preventing Delayed Nausea
For nausea occurring 24 hours to several days after receiving chemotherapy or in reaction to the combination of multiple medicines and radiation, pre-chemotherapy agents such as fosaprepitant (Emend®) have been found to be effective.
Back to topTiming Is Key
Another breakthrough in recent years is that doctors and nurses recognize how important it is to stay ahead of the nausea.
“We try to educate patients about identifying that sense of uneasiness or early nausea coming on, and do something about it right away,” Mr. Russell says. Chemotherapy nurses give patients this information before they begin their regimen, as well as at various intervals along the way.
“We make it a point to check in with each patient after he or she has received their first dose of a chemotherapy drug, or if they are switching drugs,” he explains, “so we can reinforce techniques for managing any symptoms or side effects immediately. With quick action, we can avoid the scenario of a patient being at home with uncontrolled nausea needing to come to the hospital for more complex and intensive interventions.”
Back to topOther Key Measures
Mr. Russell urges people to remember that when and what you eat and drink can make a big difference in how you feel following chemotherapy. Opting for small, frequent meals, drinking plenty of liquids but in measured amounts, and avoiding certain types of foods are just a few of the ways to help to minimize or prevent nausea and vomiting.
Back to topComments
Adrienne Lentini
Nov 23, 2014 • 6:45 PM
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Nov 23, 2014 • 7:40 PM
In reply to My husbandhas stage four by Adrienne Lentini
Adrienne, we are sorry to hear about your husband’s condition. All stages of prostate cancer can be treated, although much depends on each patient’s individual case.
You can learn about how Memorial Sloan Kettering treats prostate cancer at this link:
http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/adult/prostate
For questions about prostate cancer treatment, you also can call the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service at 800-4CANCER (800-422-6237). To learn more about the CIS, including Live Chat help and how to send them an email message, go to http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/cis/page3.
If you would like to make an appointment with a Memorial Sloan Kettering physician, please call our Physician Referral Service at 800-525-2225 or go to http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/appointment. Thanks for your comment.
Kim Krickhahn
Jan 14, 2015 • 2:26 PM
My mother has state IV non-small cell lung cancer. She is taking Tarceva and has a monthly infusion of Zometa. The cancer has spread so she has had a couple targeted radiation treatments. She is skin and bones and has no energy. Her nausea is a concern. What could be causing her nausea that prohibits her from eating?
Kim Krickhahn
Jan 15, 2015 • 10:59 AM
Gina Hollister
Feb 2, 2015 • 10:03 PM
My husband is being treated at our local cancer institute, with some success. They feel his stage IV cancer is incurable and he will need chemo infusion treatments forever. Surgery is not an option since it's in the wall (no polyps). I'm looking for a rectal cancer specialist that might have new options. Do you have anyone on staff that is specifically treating rectal cancers?
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Feb 3, 2015 • 9:33 AM
In reply to My husband is being treated by Gina Hollister
Gina, MSK has a team devoted to treating rectal cancer. You can read more about our approach here: http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/adult/colorectal/treatment-rectal
If you’d like to find out about making an appointment for your husband, you can call 800-525-2225 or go to http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/appointment for more information. Thank you for your comment.
Natalino Guglielmetti
Oct 3, 2018 • 5:02 PM
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Oct 4, 2018 • 10:30 AM
In reply to I was diagnosed with spindle… by Natalino Guglielmetti
Dear Natalino, we’re very sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Cure rates for cancer depend on a number of factors, including the stage at which it is diagnosed and the molecular features of the tumor. We recommend that you discuss this with your medical team. Thank you for your comment, and best wishes to you.
My husbandhas stage four prostate cancer is there a cure