Chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting is one of the most important side effects during treatment. To some it may be a minor irritant, but to others it makes chemotherapy an ordeal and may be associated with some of the worst memories of treatment. Here are four common questions people ask about chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting:
1. Why does chemotherapy cause nausea and vomiting?
Why does something that we don't even eat make us want to throw up? chemotherapy drugs injected in our veins make their way to different areas of the brain that switch on a reflex that makes us want to vomit. A lot of factors including the sight and smell of the drugs may stimulate the 'vomiting center' and cause nausea and vomiting.
2. Why do some people vomit early and some late?
Chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting is not a single phenomenon. There are three types of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting - vomiting that starts soon after chemotherapy, vomiting that starts after a day, and vomiting that starts even before chemotherapy is administered.
3. Which chemotherapy drugs cause more nausea and vomiting?
All chemotherapy drugs do not cause the same amount of nausea and vomiting. Based on their potential to cause nausea and vomiting (also called 'emetogenic potential'), drugs are divided into different risk groups. Many of the common drugs used for lymphoma can cause severe nausea and vomiting.
4. How is chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting treated?
There are now several effective classes of drugs used for the control of chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting. They include strong 'anti-emetics', steroids and sedatives. These drugs, used alone or in combination, can control nausea and vomiting in the majority of cases.
