I'm 6 sessions into a 30 session radiotherapy treatment on my neck and I'm experiencing a small amount of nausea - by no means bad, just there. I understand nausea is NOT uncommon, but again, doesn't affect everyone either.

I'm going to monitor how I feel and discuss this with my oncologist as I'd prefer to avoid using any drugs to control it. But the thought has crossed my mind as to whether there are any apsects of my diet that may be contributing to this nausea. As I am so early in my treatment I am still eating a normal diet as I don't feel affected that much yet!!!

Has anyone experience of what aspects of diet can contribute to nausea such as dairy products (I use skimmed milk in drinks and soya milk on cereal, and have home made yoghurt), alcohol (am still drinking beer and wine), carbs or fat? My diet is very healthy (bar booze!) and is all freshly cooked food with plenty of carbs and veg.

Thoughts????

Hey Fat Buddha,

I wanted to reply to your post to say HELLO, but not because I have any great advice or info to share... except this...

You may want to consider seeking the services of a professional nutritionist who may be able to address your questions and how certain foods may contribute to nausea (or perhaps reduce it). I would suggest talking with your oncologist to see if he/she will recommend someone in your area.

Because my husband's swallowing ability unfortunately failed (rapidly and completely) within two weeks of starting his radiotherapy, I cannot speak to the issue of food and its affects on nausea during radiation. My husband did experience the nausea, but felt it was most often triggered by the excessive amount of thick mucus that was quite troubling all during and for some time after treatment. He began PEG tube feeding very early on and was placed on a anti-nausea medication called Reglan (which is quite commonplace) to keep the stomach settled as his system became accustomed to the high-nutrient liquid diet. Another contributor to my husband's nausea during radiation was the fact that he was also receiving intermittent weeks of chemo. Also, before every radiation treatment, he received Ethyol injections (which is supposed to protect saliva glands from damage during radiation, and preserve kidney function during chemo as well). The Ethyol caused nausea too. So, in his case, there were so many things triggering nausea... excess mucus, tube feedings, chemo, Ethyol... he HAD to take nausea meds. He tried several until they found the one that worked best. Zofran was better than some others (for him anyway), and I would give him one when the Reglan alone wasn't keeping the stomach under control.

I am so glad to know that you are not experiencing any particulary troublesome radiation side effects at this point. I hope it continues. You were in such good physical shape before starting treatment that it is possible you will get along better than most throughout. I'll keep fingers crossed.

Just curious... Did they automatically do a PEG tube (gastric feeding tube) placement before your radiation commenced (just in case your swallowing becomes a problem during treatment)? The oncologists in our area strongly suggest it as a matter of routine course in the case of radiation/chemo for head and neck cancer patients (as most experience swallowing issues that adversely effects physical strength during and after radiation and causes rapid weight loss).

I understand your wish to avoid taking nausea drugs (or any drugs for that matter, if you don't have to)... but, if the sickness becomes worse in the upcoming weeks, I hope you'll reconsider medication simply because there will likely be other issues to deal with as well (like the breakdown of skin within the radiation field, fatigue and weakness, etc.) Controlling the nausea will help you to deal with other side-effects.

Check about a consult with a reputable nutritionist to help guide you along. (Most hospitals have teams of them.) My husband was automatically referred to the hospital's nutrition department when tube feedings began.

I wish you the best throughout the remainder of your treatment. Keep us posted as to how you're doing. You are strong, FB!

From my heart,

Melanie

thanks for the feedback Melanie - very useful

fortunately I don't have the issues your husband experienced - for which I am very grateful - and so far I'm not experiencing too many side effects. not much change in my saliva yet, sore throat is starting, some salivary gland swelling but generally OK and certainly hasn't got in the way of me doing anything yet

my taste is changing a little - I had some olives last night and just found them yeeeuch - but then some olives are like that!! (they were on a pizza ) so - no PEG as you can tell which I'm pleased about.

I spoke with my oncologist yesterday during a review session and she advised me to keep an eye on it and see how I get on.......

I have some ideas what may be the cause - caffeine maybe, and alcohol maybe - so am doing some tests..........

feel Ok today though!

quote:

I'm 6 sessions into a 30 session radiotherapy treatment on my neck and I'm experiencing a small amount of nausea - by no means bad, just there. I understand nausea is NOT uncommon, but again, doesn't affect everyone either.........

Thoughts????

Hi
I felt sick very early on during radiotherapy. Don't be a martyr just ask and they will prescribe something like Maxolon. It really does make the day easier to cope with once the oral problems start to take over your mouth. You'll need far stronger drugs that an anti nausea drug very soon. More or less once rads treatment finished I found the nausea subdued as well.

You may also suffer what feels like the most awful indigestion or heartburn. For this you can have a medication product like omerparozole as a daily tablet or as a granular drink. These drugs really do make a difference to how you cope with the rest of the day. The acid reflux was awful until I was given medication for it (which I still take three and a half years later). The Maxolon also controls the oesophagus too, but may not be enough once the rads sets in and gives the full works acid reflux. Many people have permanent oesophagus damage after radiotherpy and so have to take omerparozole for life.

I didn't think diet affected my nauseau its just part of the radiotherapy effects whether you eat food or not. My taste was so instantly metallic from day one that I had to eat what I could take down. I lived off the tiniest of tea plate size small portions of porridge, rice pudding, pancake or asparagus soup and small glasses of milk.

Since alcohol is supposed to be an added hazard factor in oral cancers it might be best to avoid it pronto. Some people won't even use a mouthwash wich contains any alcohol in it for that very reason. But don't worry too much as you'll soon find alcohol will taste like disgusting tannin poison for the next 2 years or so at least! Even now if I have just one glass of good champagne at an occasion I get ulcers reappearing on my tongue.

Keep drinking lots and lots of water.

thankfully the nausea seems to have disappeared now and I suspect that it was just my body geting used to the radiation.

but starting the 3rd week of treatment the sore throat has really kicked in instead so have started using soluble co-proxamol which seems to be doing the trick.

diet is still relatively normal but tastes are changing - cheese is no longer nice (tastes like cardboard) and wine tastes too acidic (booooooo!) so have cut that out and changed to the occasional Guinness instead. I am aware of alcohol being a hazard factor in oral cancers but hey - driving is a hazard factor in road accidents . I'm not going to stop something I enjoy - there's enough other hazards in life.

Still exercising - good bike ride and run at the weekend - and intend to keep that going as long as possible as I am sure my overall fitness is helping me to cope.

Ah almost half way there now and probably counting down the days. I'm sure this treatment affects everyone slightly differently. Don't be slow in asking for morphine or an alternative high pain killer when the burns start to break down and weep around treatment 20. Youcan still take the prescription solpadol as well and I used to take the morphiner and solpadol in alternate doses. Good luck - we all cope with this in our own different ways.

The NCI's 'Nausea and Vomiting PDQ' and Cancerpage.com's "Managing Side Effects' links given at the MCF website's PATIENT'S GUIDE > COMPLICATIONS section will be helpful.

Vinod

Vinod - thanks for the response but that link no longer works by the way

Links:

• NCI's 'Nausea and Vomiting PDQ'
• Cancerpage.com's "Managing Side Effects: Nausea & Vomitting'