Anxiety is usually higher in patients with anticipatory nausea, and higher anxiety lessens the patient's ability to cope with side effects. Age may be a factor in nausea and vomiting. Younger patients tend to receive more aggressive chemotherapy regimens and therefore experience more nausea and vomiting. Hypnosis, relaxation, and behavioral modification techniques may reduce anticipatory nausea and vomiting. Some antianxiety drugs may also be helpful.
Chemotherapy is the most common treatment-related cause of nausea and vomiting.
Usually, these symptoms can be prevented or controlled. Radiation therapy to certain parts of the body can also cause nausea and vomiting. Patients who are receiving radiation to the GI tract or brain are more likely to experience nausea and vomiting than are patients who are receiving radiation therapy for cancer in other sites. When a large area of the GI tract, especially the small intestine and stomach, receives radiation therapy, the patient is likely to experience nausea and vomiting. Because cells of the GI tract are dividing quickly, they are very sensitive to radiation therapy.