Nausea and Oncology Mini Series #3 (Causes)
Causes
KEY POINTS
- Many factors increase the risk of nausea and vomiting with chemotherapy.
- Radiation therapy may also cause nausea and vomiting.
- Other conditions may also increase the risk of nausea and vomiting in patients with advanced cancer.
Many factors increase the risk of nausea and vomiting with chemotherapy.
Nausea and vomiting with chemotherapy are more likely if the patient:
- Is treated with certain chemotherapy drugs.
- Had severe or frequent periods of nausea and vomiting after past chemotherapy treatments.
- Is female.
- Is younger than 50 years.
- Had morning sickness or vomiting with a past pregnancy.
- Has a fluid and/or electrolyte imbalance (dehydration, too much calcium in the blood, or too much fluid in the body's tissues).
- Has a tumor in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, or brain.
- Has constipation.
- Is receiving certain drugs, such as opioids (pain medicine).
- Has an infection, including an infection in the blood.
- Has kidney disease.
Patients who drank large amounts of alcohol over time have a lower risk of nausea and vomiting after being treated with chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy may also cause nausea and vomiting.
The following treatment factors may affect the risk of nausea and vomiting:
- The part of the body where the radiation therapy is given. Radiation therapy to the gastrointestinal tract, liver, or brain, or whole body is likely to cause nausea and vomiting.
- The size of the area being treated.
- The dose of radiation.
- Receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the same time.
The following patient factors may cause nausea and vomiting with radiation therapy if the patient:
- Is younger than 55 years.
- Is female.
- Has anxiety.
- Had severe or frequent periods of nausea and vomiting after past chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatments.
Patients who drank large amounts of alcohol over time have a lower risk of nausea and vomiting after being treated with radiation therapy.
Other conditions may also increase the risk of nausea and vomiting in patients with advanced cancer.
Nausea and vomiting may also be caused by other conditions. In patients with advanced cancer, chronic nausea and vomiting may be caused by the following:
- Brain tumors or pressure on the brain.
- Tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.
- High or low levels of certain substances in the blood.
- Medicines such as opioids.
Rachel Namery, MS
Manager of R&D, Formulator and Nutrition Coach
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