National Cancer Institute

U.S. DEPARTMENT 

OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes

of Health

Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects

Nausea and 

Vomiting

Call your doctor or nurse if the 

medicine is not working and you 

have nausea or vomiting.

What are nausea 

and vomiting?

Nausea is when you feel sick to your 

stomach, like you are going to throw up. 

Vomiting is when you throw up. You 

will most likely feel better on days you 

don’t get chemotherapy.

Take these steps 

to feel better:

Take your anti-nausea medicine. ● Talk with your doctor or nurse 

to make sure you are taking your 

medicine the right way. 

● It’s very important to take your 

medicine—even on days you are 

feeling well.

Stay away from some foods. ● Eat less greasy, fried, salty, sweet, or 

spicy foods. 

● If the smell of food bothers you, ask 

others to cook for you. Then let the 

food cool down before you eat it.

Have enough to eat and drink. ● Take small sips of water during the 

day, if you find it hard to drink a full 

glass at one time.

● Eat 5 or 6 small meals during the day, 

instead of 3 big meals.

Choose foods from the list on 

the other side of this sheet.

On days you get treatment: ● Deep breathing and meditation 

help some people to relax before 

treatment. 

● Learn the best time for you to eat 

and drink. Some people feel better 

when they eat a little just before 

treatment. Others feel better when 

they have nothing to eat or drink 

before treatment. 

● After treatment, wait at least 1 hour 

before you eat or drink.

● Acupuncture lowers nausea and/or

vomiting in some people. Talk with 

your nurse to learn more about 

acupuncture and other ways to feel 

better during treatment.

“I take medicine so I won’t feel sick to my 

stomach or vomit. My doctor and I had to 

try a few different kinds of medicine before 

we found one that worked for me.”
Revised February 2012

How can we help?

National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service

Phone: 1-800-422-6237 (1-800-4-CANCER)

Web: www.cancer.gov

Online Chat: www.cancer.gov/livehelp

NCI has a series of 18 Chemotherapy Side Effects Sheets at:

www.cancer.gov/chemo-side-effects

Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects: Nausea and Vomiting

Questions to ask your doctor or nurse:

1. What problems should I call you about?

2. What foods should I try to eat more of? Which foods 

should I eat less of?

3. How much liquid should I try to drink every day?

4. What medicine can help? When should I take it? 

5. Would you give me the name of a specialist who can 

tell me more about practices, such as acupuncture, that 

may help me feel better?

6. Would you give me the name of a nutritionist, so I can 

learn more about what foods to eat?

These foods and drinks may be easy on your stomach:

Soups Drinks Main meals and snacks Fruits and sweets

• Clear broth, 

such as 

chicken, beef, 

and vegetable

• Clear soda, such as 

ginger ale

• Cranberry or grape 

juice 

• Oral rehydration 

drinks, such as 

Pedialyte®

• Tea 

• Water

• Chicken—broiled or baked 

without the skin

• Cream of wheat 

or rice cereal

• Crackers or pretzels

• Oatmeal

• Pasta or noodles

• Potatoes—boiled, 

without the skin

• White rice

• White toast

• Bananas

• Canned fruit such as 

applesauce, peaches, 

and pears

• Gelatin (Jell-O®)

• Popsicles and sherbet 

• Yogurt (plain or vanilla)