Return to Food for Health and Healing Articles Index

Help for An Upset Stomach

By Caroline Fuller (with help from Arlene F. Harder, MA, MFT)

Why I Don't Like Cotton Candy

One time, when I was about 12 years old, I was taken to the circus at the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth, TX. I talked my parents into buying me a fluffy mound of pink cotton candy. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to me, I brought with me to the show a particularly mean flu bug . We had to leave the circus early because I became violently ill. The disappointment in missing the show may have been greater than my physical discomfort, especially if you include the disappointment of my three sisters.

For years following that experience, I could not eat cotton candy. I hadn't become allergic to it, but because I had gotten violently ill when eating the stuff, the mere thought of cotton candy still causes that uncomfortable feeling in my throat.

As you will soon see, my cotton candy story illustrates an important principle of the connection between nausea and cancer treatment.

Do You Have to Throw Up Before Chemotherapy Can Work?

It is true that nausea and vomiting can be a side effect of cancer treatment. This does not mean that everyone who has chemotherapy and radiation therapy or radiotherapy is going to feel nauseated or that all nausea will be a serious problem. The type of cancer you have and the drugs and therapies prescribed for you will play a large part in whether or not you will have nausea and vomiting.

Unfortunately, nausea is not an indication of the effectiveness of chemotherapy, so throwing up doesn't guarantee the treatments will be successful. Conversely, feeling fine doesn't mean treatment won't work. The best approach is to not assume that you will have an upset stomach with treatment. Rather, talk to your physician about any concerns you may have and he or she will can prescribe anti-nausea medications in case you need them. You may find that you will be a great deal less uncomfortable than you had expected.

Having an Upset Stomach Before Treatment

It is estimated that up to half of all people receiving chemotherapy experience some nausea before their treatment. This is known as anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV) and it usually makes the nausea more severe when the chemotherapy is actually given. This can eventually become such a set psychological pattern that it affects the amount of chemotherapy that can be given. And once the pattern of ANV is established, it is much harder to control nausea and vomiting before and after treatment.

This conditioned reflex is widely known among doctors; so much so that there is a joke about the patient who passed her oncologist in the street and threw up on the spot. (Kind of like my aversion to cotton candy). Your anxiety level, how you feel about your cancer and how you respond to stress and disease are all factors in setting up this psychological pattern.

Managing Nausea Throughout Cancer Treatment

While you may be willing to accept an upset stomach as a price you are willing to pay for the potential benefit of chemotherapy, it is certainly not much fun. However, you can avoid (or at least diminish) nausea and vomiting both before and after chemotherapy by taking some of the following steps:

Ask your doctor about medicine to control nausea. There are many anti-emetic (anti-vomiting) medications and one of them is likely to work for you.

If possible, relax in a quiet darkened room before your treatment sessions.

You can use any of a variety of behavioral techniques to help you relax, such as self-hypnosis, relaxation techniques, meditation, imagery exercises or listening to a tape of your favorite music. (See Imagery for Hope, Peace and Healing.)

Explore acupressure or acupuncture, which have been effective in controlling nausea and vomiting in some cases.

Vary the time of day at which you get treatments. If you have a problem in the morning, try early afternoon next time.

Always avoid your favorite foods when you are getting chemotherapy, just in case you do happen to get sick. You might start to associate these foods with treatment and develop a strong aversion to them -- which is like adding insult to injury.

Going through cancer treatment can greatly diminish the sense of control over your life you once felt. Therefore, it is interesting to note that controlling what and when you eat may help not only to decrease feelings of nausea, but to increase your sense of control.

Eat small amounts often and slowly.

Avoid eating in a room that's stuffy, too warm, or has cooking odors or smells that might disagree with you

Drink fewer liquids with meals; drinking liquids can cause a full bloated feeling.

Drink or sip liquids throughout the day, except at mealtimes. Using a straw may help.

Eat foods at room temperature or cooler; hot foods may add to nausea.

Drink chilled beverages. Freeze favorite beverages in ice cube trays and eat like a Popsicle.

Rest after meals, because activity may slow digestion. It's best to rest sitting up for about an hour after meals.

If nausea is a problem in the morning, try eating dry toast or crackers before getting up.

Wear loose fitting clothes.

If you have nausea, the next time avoid eating for 1 to 2 hours before treatment.

Keep track of when your nausea occurs and what causes it (specific foods, events, surroundings). Share the information with your doctor or nurse so you can make appropriate changes in your diet or schedule.

Try foods such as: toast and crackers, yogurt, sherbet, pretzels, angel food cake, oatmeal, skinned chicken (baked or broiled, not fried), fruits and vegetables that are soft or bland (such as canned peaches), clear liquids, ice chips allowed to slowly melt on your tongue.

Avoid: fatty, greasy or fried foods, very sweet foods (such as candy, cookies or cake), spicy foods, foods with strong odors.

Dealing With Vomiting

Very often if you can control nausea, you can prevent vomiting. If vomiting occurs, try these hints to prevent further episodes.

Ask your doctor about medicine to control nausea.

Do not drink or eat until you have the vomiting under control.

Once you have controlled vomiting, try small amounts of clear liquids. Begin with a teaspoonful every ten minutes, gradually increase the amount to a tablespoonful every twenty minutes, and finally, try two tablespoonfuls every 30 minutes.

When you are able to keep down clear liquids, try a full-liquid diet. Continue taking small amounts as often as you can keep them down. If you feel okay on a full-liquid diet, gradually work up to your regular diet.

For additional information, contact ChemoCare, 231 North Avenue West, Westfield, New Jersey 07090-2146, NJ (908) 233-1103, NYC (212) 517-6797, TDD (908) 233-7510, FAX (908) 233-0228. This is a non-profit, voluntary program whose chief goal is to encourage people undergoing treatment for cancer to continue despite adverse side effects. Support is given by people who have survived a similar experience and have resumed living normal lives.

— © Copyright, Learning Place Online