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Nausea

  • Eat six to eight small meals a day, instead of three large meals.
  • Eat dry foods, such as crackers, toast, dry cereals or bread sticks when you wake up and every few hours during the day.
  • Choose foods that do not have a strong odor, and eat foods cold instead of hot.
  • Avoid foods that are overly sweet, fatty, fried, or spicy such as rich desserts and french fries.
  • Sit up or recline with your head raised for at least one hour after eating if you need to rest.
  • Be sure to drink enough fluid by sipping clear liquids frequently.
  • Talk with your doctor about a prescription for anti-nausea medicine. The medicine works best when it is taken regularly a half hour before meals.
  • Try bland, soft, easy-to-digest foods on scheduled treatment days. Foods such as cream of wheat and chicken noodle soup with saltine crackers may be better tolerated than heavy meals.
  • Avoid eating in a room that is stuffy or warm, or that has cooking odors or other smells. Cook outside on the grill or use boiling bags to reduce cooking smells.
  • Rinse out your mouth before and after meals.
  • Suck on hard candy, such as peppermint or lemon, if there is a bad taste in your mouth.
  • Drink eight or more cups of liquid each day if you can. Drink an additional 1/2 to 1 cup of liquid for each episode of vomiting. It is better to sip liquids 30 to 60 minutes after eating solid food.

Speak with a Cancer nurse: 1-800-865-1125
See Also:
Nutrition During Treatment Information Guide

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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
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