Nausea and vomiting are common problems during chemotherapy cycles. Nausea and vomiting can sometimes last for several days after the chemotherapy treatment stops.
Some children may become anxious before having chemotherapy and other treatments. This may cause vomiting before chemotherapy starts or may cause the vomiting to last longer after treatment. Some children can become so upset by clinic visits and treatments that even the smell of the clinic or hospital can make them feel ill enough to begin vomiting.
The effects of chemotherapy vary with each child and the dose and type of chemotherapy they receive. A medicine that makes one child very ill often has no effect on another child. Because the effects vary so much, how to manage nausea and vomiting also varies from one child to another. Your child's healthcare team will work out a specific plan for your child.
If your child has nausea and vomiting, your child's cancer doctor will give your child medicines called anti-emetics. These medicines effectively reduce nausea and vomiting.
Different medicines work well for different children and your child may have more than one medicine for relief from nausea and vomiting. Your child can have anti-emetics either by mouth (orally) or into a vein (intravenously). You may be able to give your child medicines by mouth at home if nausea and vomiting continue. Follow the instructions you receive from your doctor or nurse at the treatment centre.
Try giving your child cold foods that don't have much smell - things like jelly, fruit juice, biscuits, sandwiches and desserts.
Try dry foods such as crackers and plain biscuits.
Try ice cubes, ice blocks, peppermints or barley sugars.
When your child is able to drink fluids without vomiting, try giving them small amounts of foods that appeal - such as, cereals, yoghurt and cooked pureed fruit.
Avoid giving fatty and spicy foods such as chips, pizza, fried foods and chocolate until after your child stops feeling sick.
Phone the hospital and tell your child's doctor or nurse if:
Phone the hospital if your child has not been able to drink for 2 hours, has vomited 3 or more times during the last 2 hours, or you are worried.
Yes, children sometimes want to eat a few minutes after vomiting has stopped or after a bout of nausea has passed.
You can give some of your child's favourites but it might be best to not give all of them. Because they feel so ill, some children develop a lasting association and dislike of some food during this time.
All the pages in the childhood cancer section of this website [2] have been written by health professionals who work in the field of paediatric oncology. They have been reviewed by the members of the National Child Cancer Network (NZ). Medical information is authorised by the National Child Cancer Network Clinical Leader.
This page last reviewed 10 June 2021.
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[1] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/tags/side-effects-treatment
[2] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/tags/childhood-cancer
[3] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F472%3Flanguage%3Dmi