Talking Wellness - Cards for Cancer: Coping

This year, the American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 1.3 million men and women will be diagnosed with cancer. Although cancer can be a complex and challenging disease, there are several things you and your doctor may be able to do to help better manage the disease, its treatment, and your life in general. The diagnosis of cancer and undergoing cancer treatment can be challenging enough for anyone; unwanted treatment side effects can compound the disruption in your life even further.

Coping with cancer and its treatment can involve taking care of your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Awareness of what might happen can help reassure you that certain side effects are common and better prepare you for dealing with them. Most importantly, being better informed may enable you and your doctor to help prevent or proactively manage side effects so that they will be less likely to disrupt your treatment.

It's a good idea to be a proactive participant in your own disease management. One way of doing this is talking with your healthcare team about any side effects you experience.

Some common side effects of cancer treatment may include:

Constipation
Fatigue
Fever
Hair loss
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Pain
Sore mouth, gums and throat
Vomiting

In addition, cancer and the physical side effects of cancer may also cause you to experience emotional distress. Effective lines of communication are especially important for people with cancer who are undergoing treatment. Many people feel overwhelmed and hopeless during this time, which increases the importance of open communication between patients and their healthcare providers. Click here for more information and tips on how to better communicate with your healthcare team.

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are common during chemotherapy because treatments that kill cancer cells can also affect normal cells, either injuring stomach cells or releasing chemicals in the blood that triggers the centers of the brain to invoke uncomfortable feelings of nausea and vomiting. Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting can be divided into three types: acute (within 24 hours of treatment), delayed (after 24 hours of treatment, up to six-seven days), and anticipatory (a "learned response" from previous history with nausea and vomiting after treatment).

In working with his/her doctor, there are medications and other helpful hints that may help a patient manage or prevent nausea and vomiting. Some tips include:

Know your risk. Discuss with your oncologist, surgeon or radiologist if your treatment will cause nausea or vomiting, and mention your desire to actively prevent or control it, as appropriate with medication and/or lifestyle adjustments.
Avoid large meals. Instead, eat small meals throughout the day.
Avoid fried, fatty and sweet foods.
Suck on ice cubes, mints, or try drinking peppermint or ginger tea.
Eat foods at room temperature.
If nausea is a problem in the morning, eat dry foods like cereal, toast, and crackers.
Rest in a chair after eating, but don't lie flat until at least two hours after you've finished your meal.
Breathe relaxed and slowly: use relaxation techniques.

Who Is At Risk?

Certain factors can place a person at higher risk for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Click here to find out what they are.

Patients have consistently identified nausea and vomiting among the most distressing side effects of chemotherapy that can lead to considerable disruption in daily activities. However, every person's experience with side effects is unique and there are specific actions that patients can take to help prevent and help better manage side effects, including medications, if appropriate. One of the most important things patients can do is talk with their doctor or nurse about any side effects they may be experiencing as they undergo chemotherapy treatment.

For additional tips on managing side effects, click here.

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