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Questions
& Answers
What are nausea, vomiting
and retching?
What is CINV?
What is RINV?
What is PONV?
Why do I get sick?
Isn’t nausea and vomiting just
an inevitable part of cancer treatment or surgery?
Are there medicines to help prevent
nausea and vomiting?
How easy are the medicines to take?
When will I be given the medicines?
Why should I be worried about
nausea and vomiting?
How soon will I get sick?
How often will I get sick?
What if I’m taking medicine
to prevent nausea and vomiting and I still feel sick?
What happens if my nausea
wakes me up in the middle of the night?
Will my current medicines
affect my nausea and vomiting medicines?
What else can I do to relieve my nausea
and vomiting?
What are nausea,
vomiting
and retching?
Nausea is the queasy feeling in the stomach which may lead to
the urge to vomit. Vomiting is the actual act of getting
rid of the contents of the stomach through the mouth, or "throwing
up." Retching, also called "dry
heaves" is an attempt to vomit that does not remove
anything from the stomach.
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What is CINV?
CINV is Chemotherapy
-Induced Nausea and Vomiting. CINV usually
begins with a queasy feeling in the stomach, which may be caused
by chemotherapy.
These medicines may also cause retching and vomiting.
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What is RINV?
RINV is Radiation
therapy- Induced Nausea and Vomiting. RINV
may begin with a sick feeling in the stomach when a person receives
radiation treatments. Radiation treatment may also cause retching
and vomiting.
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What is PONV?
PONV is Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting.
PONV may begin with a sick feeling in the stomach following some
surgical procedures. People may also suffer from retching and vomiting.
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Why do
I get sick?
Nausea is controlled by a part of the nervous
system that controls certain body functions that we often take
for granted, like breathing. A special area of the brain called
the vomiting
center manages vomiting.
When a person receives chemotherapy, radiation therapy or following
some surgical procedures, the body releases a chemical that causes
the vomiting center to cause nausea and vomiting.
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Isn’t
nausea and vomiting just an inevitable part of cancer treatment
or surgery?
No. Not everyone gets sick from their treatment or surgery.
If you experience nausea and vomiting, there are medicines that
can reduce your symptoms and make you feel better. Talk to your
doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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Are
there medicines to help prevent nausea and vomiting?
Yes. CINV/RINV and PONV can be controlled by treatment with
antiemetics.
Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about which of these treatments
is best for you. Things your healthcare professional might consider
when selecting a medicine include your cancer treatment, previous
history of nausea and vomiting, potential interactions with other
medicines you are taking, and potential benefits, such as full 24-hour
coverage and easy dosing.
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How easy
are the medicines to take?
Different medicines are given in different ways. You should discuss
which medicine might be easiest for you with your doctor, nurse
or pharmacist.
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When
will I be given the medicines?
You and your doctor will decide when it is best for you to take
your medicines. You may take medicine before, during or after your
cancer treatment or surgery. If you are not offered treatment and
you feel sick, be sure to tell you doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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Why should I be worried about nausea and vomiting?
If not controlled properly, nausea and vomiting can have serious
effects on your health, which may even lead to hospitalization.
Following cancer treatment or surgery, nausea and vomiting can have
a big impact on your health and well being. Being more comfortable
after cancer treatment means you will be more likely to complete
your entire treatment course - the most important thing you can
do to fight your cancer.
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How
soon will I get sick?
Typically people begin to feel sick shortly after their cancer treatment
begins, although, the type of treatment often dictates when a person
will start to feel the effects. Some will feel sick immediately
upon receiving treatment, while others may not feel ill until several
hours or days later.
Patients who have undergone surgery often feel sick when they wake
up from the anesthesia.
Remember, not everyone will get sick, but if you do experience
nausea and vomiting, there are medicines available to help you.
Talk to your doctor, nurse of pharmacist.
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How
often will I get sick?
People undergoing chemotherapy
and radiation
therapy may feel sick following each course of treatment. Those
undergoing surgery are likely only to feel sick after the surgery.
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What
if I’m taking medicine to prevent nausea and vomiting and I
still feel sick?
Some medicines may work better for you than others. If you are currently
taking an antiemetic
and you still feel sick, contact your doctor, nurse of pharmacist
and ask if other medicines might work better.
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What
happens if my nausea wakes me up in the middle of the night?
If you wake up feeling nauseous, ask your doctor about medicines
that can provide full 24-hour symptom relief.
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Will
my current medicines affect my nausea and vomiting medicines?
Some medicines can interfere with others, causing what's known as
an adverse reaction, which may have serious consequences. Make sure
you tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of the medicines you
are taking, including prescription medications, vitamin supplements,
herbal supplements, aspirin, etc. He or she will be able to give
you medicine for your nausea and vomiting which is less likely to
interact with your other medicines.
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What else
can I do to relieve my nausea and vomiting?
In addition to asking your doctor about medicines that can help,
there are a number of things you can do to take control of nausea
and vomiting. These include changing
your diet and eating habits, reducing your anxiety,
and making yourself more comfortable.
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REMEMBER, make sure you find out about your nausea and vomiting
and its treatment. The more you know the better you can manage your
symptoms and the sooner you can feel better.
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Chemotherapy Side Effects |
Radiation Side Effects |
Post-Operative Side Effects |
Symptom Relief |
Treatment Options |
References Symptom Diary | Diet Do's & Don'ts | Questions & Answers | Tips & Facts | Handbook for Nurses | Practical Guide for Patients
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