Coping with Nausea During Cancer Treatment

Facing nausea during chemotherapy or other cancer treatments can be distressing. It’s important to know that you are not alone, many patients have intense nausea at times. Nausea happens because cancer drugs attack fast-growing cells in your gut and send chemical signals to the brain’s “vomit centre”. In fact, even with modern anti-nausea drugs, about a third to over two-thirds of patients still report nausea with chemo. The good news is that there are many gentle, practical steps you can try. This article explains why nausea occurs and offers supportive, manageable tips for relief in each area below.

Why treatment can make you feel sick

Chemotherapy travels through your bloodstream and can irritate your stomach and intestines. This causes cells in the gut to release serotonin and other chemicals that trigger the brain’s nausea centre (the “chemoreceptor trigger zone”). These signals make you feel sick even when your stomach is empty. Cancer treatments like chemo or some radiation also release toxins that your body wants to vomit out. Other factors can add to nausea; for example, strong smells, stress or anxiety, and even remembering a past chemo session can make you feel sicker. All of this is normal with chemo, and it does not mean something is wrong with you. It just means your treatment is powerful. It can help to remind yourself that nausea is a sign that the body is reacting to toxins, but that you have options to fight back.

Recent surveys show how common chemo nausea still is: one review found 30 – 60% of patients continue to feel nausea after chemo despite preventive medications, and some trials report over 70% of people feel nausea even with antiemetics. Knowing this can help validate that nausea is a shared side effect, not a personal failing. Doctors and nurses have many tools to manage it, and you can help them by trying simple strategies at home too.

Dietary changes that may help

Small changes in what and how you eat can lessen nausea. Try these tips, one at a time, to see what works for you:

• Eat small, bland meals. Instead of three big meals, have 5 – 6 tiny meals or snacks throughout the day. Tiny portions are easier to keep down. Simple, bland foods like crackers, dry toast, pretzels, plain rice or boiled potatoes are often easier on the stomach than spicy or fatty foods.

   

• Avoid strong smells. Cold or room-temperature foods tend to smell less than hot meals. Many patients find that cold sandwiches, yoghurt, or cooled soup work better than something that is steamed. If cooking smells are bad, let someone else cook or try eating ready-made foods.

   

• Choose easy-to-digest foods. Soft fruits like applesauce or ripe bananas, and gentle proteins like poached chicken or plain chicken broth, can be kinder to a queasy stomach. Avoid greasy fried foods or heavy sauces. Tempting as a favourite meal might be, save it for when you feel better, so you don’t start to associate it with feeling sick.

   

• Take medications with food. If your doctor has prescribed pills (even anti-nausea meds), try taking them with a light snack or a few crackers unless they say otherwise. Sometimes the act of chewing and swallowing a little food can reduce nausea.

   

These dietary tweaks won’t stop nausea instantly, but many people report feeling better after adjusting their eating habits. Chemo often hits hardest on an empty stomach or just after eating, so keeping little bits of food in your stomach all day can help soothe it. No need to eat a lot, just a few bites at a time.

Staying hydrated

Dehydration can make nausea worse, so it’s key to keep sipping fluids even if you don’t feel like eating. Try these ideas:

• Sips throughout the day. Keep a bottle of water or ginger tea beside you and take a sip every few minutes. Even a little water can help dilute stomach acids. Some people find ice chips or ice blocks easier to tolerate than drinking.

   

• Replace electrolytes. Sometimes plain water tastes bland; adding a pinch of salt or a slice of lemon to water, or sipping herbal ginger or mint tea, can help. There are also electrolyte drinks (like diluted sports drinks) or broth (soup) that replace salts and may settle the stomach. Avoid drinking a lot with meals, though, as that can make you fuller and sicker. Take small sips between bites instead.

   

• Cold or carbonated drinks. A cool soda (like ginger ale or lemon-lime, not too sweet) can sometimes ease nausea. Fizz can settle the stomach for some people. If the fizzy part bothers you, let it go flat first. Peppermint or ginger tea (or even mint candies) may be soothing as well. Our bodies often find mint and ginger comforting when we feel sick.

   

The goal is gentle hydration. Even if you only manage a mouthful at a time, every drop helps. Try to drink something even when you don’t feel thirsty. And ask your care team if they have IV or anti-nausea plans in place if keeping fluids down becomes too hard.

Anti-nausea medications

There are many prescription drugs that doctors use to prevent and treat nausea. If you’re still feeling sick, you should feel empowered to ask your care team about adjusting your anti-nausea (antiemetic) regimen. Common antiemetic classes include:

• Serotonin (5-HT₃) antagonists: Drugs like ondansetron block serotonin in the gut and brain. They are very effective for preventing nausea. Often taken before chemo and for a few days after.

   

• Steroids: Dexamethasone is frequently given along with chemo to reduce inflammation and nausea. It’s a powerful drug and is often part of the standard prevention plan.

   

• Other options: Sometimes drugs like metoclopramide (a dopamine blocker) or olanzapine (an atypical antipsychotic) are used if needed. Your doctor knows your case best and may combine these in different ways.
  

Importantly, take anti-nausea meds exactly as prescribed, even before you feel sick. Many of these meds work best if your body has them onboard ahead of time. If the nausea still isn’t controlled, let your doctor or nurse know, as they can often try a different drug or dosage. Research shows that tailoring the anti-nausea regimen is key to success. Don’t be shy about saying you need more help; controlling nausea is their priority, too.

Ginger and peppermint remedies

Natural remedies can complement medications. Ginger and peppermint are two commonly used herbs for nausea relief:

• Ginger. This root (fresh, in tea, or capsule form) has been used for centuries to calm upset stomachs. Studies in cancer patients show ginger can indeed help. For example, one clinical trial found that taking 0.5 – 1.0 grams of ginger daily (in capsules) starting a few days before chemo significantly reduced the intensity of nausea on Day 1 of treatment. Another meta-analysis reported that ginger at similar doses roughly halved the odds of vomiting from chemo. You can try ginger tea, ginger ale (flat), or ginger capsules/sweets, just check the dose. Even candied ginger or ginger biscuits can be soothing. Since ginger is very safe, it’s a good, gentle option.

   

• Peppermint. The cooling oil of peppermint also soothes nausea for many people. A small study found that patients inhaling a drop of peppermint oil near their nose three times a day (along with their regular meds) had significantly less nausea and vomiting than those on meds alone. Peppermint tea or sucking on mint candies can also calm queasiness. If peppermint is too strong, try spearmint as it has a similar effect.

   

These herbal tricks don’t work instantly for everyone, but they are safe to try along with your other treatments. Having a mint or ginger tea ready means you have something soothing on hand whenever nausea strikes. It’s an easy, natural option to add to your routine.

Acupressure and wristbands

Acupressure is an alternative method some patients find comforting. Special wristbands (often called Sea-Bands or ReliefBands) press on the P6 (Neiguan) point on your wrist. This is the same point targeted by acupuncturists to control nausea. The band applies constant gentle pressure.

Clinical research has shown modest benefits: in one study of 739 chemotherapy patients, those wearing acupressure wristbands experienced less nausea on the day of treatment than those without bands. (The effect on vomiting was less clear.) In practice, some people swear by these bands: they are drug-free, easy to use, and have no serious downsides. You can wear one on each wrist about 30 minutes before chemo and keep them on for a few hours afterwards. Even if they only partly help, they might give you a bit of relief along with your other measures. At worst, they are like wearing a reassuring pressure point.

Another related tip is acupuncture or acupressure massage: if you have access, a trained therapist applying pressure to the P6 point on each arm (about two finger-widths above the wrist crease, between the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist) can sometimes ease nausea. This can be done by a professional or even by yourself (press and rotate gently). Any motion or distraction, like rhythmic massage or a calm breathing technique, might also help break the nausea cycle.

Medicinal Cannabis

Medicinal cannabis is sometimes considered for nausea in cancer patients, and the Cannabis Clinic’s specialists can guide you on this option. Cannabis (marijuana or cannabinoids like THC/CBD) acts on the brain’s nausea pathways too. Since the 1990s, some studies have found that cannabis derivatives helped chemotherapy nausea and vomiting, but standards were different then.

Recently, a large randomised trial in Australia tested an oral capsule containing THC + CBD (2.5 mg each, three times daily) in patients whose nausea was not fully controlled by standard meds. This study found that the cannabis extract did increase the number of patients who had no vomiting or retching during chemo. Specifically, the “complete response” (no vomiting and no extra meds needed) was achieved in 24% of patients on THC/CBD versus only 8% on placebo. That’s a significant improvement.

A recent expert review noted that while many older trials and some newer ones show the benefit of cannabinoids for chemo-related nausea, most studies have compared cannabis to outdated anti-nausea drugs or to a placebo. A recent randomised controlled study has compared cannabis as an adjunct with today’s standard antiemetics and found added benefit, but it also noted mild side effects in some. In summary, cannabis may help some patients, especially if other treatments haven’t fully worked, but it isn’t guaranteed and must be managed carefully. If you and your doctor decide to try it, a low dose under medical supervision is best. Our team can advise on legal medicinal cannabis options (for example, prescribed vapourised flower or oral oils in NZ) and watch for unwanted effects. Patients often find it helps not just with nausea but also with appetite, though responses vary.

If you choose to explore medical cannabis, do it with a doctor’s guidance. It’s most often considered for rescue or breakthrough nausea (when other methods fail), rather than first-line, and we would always start very low, adjust as needed and monitor for side effects.

When to talk to your care team

All these tips are meant to empower you, but remember: your healthcare team is there to help. If nausea is making it hard to eat or drink at all, or if you’re losing weight or feeling very weak, tell your doctor or nurse right away. You may need stronger interventions (like IV fluids or stronger prescription medications). It’s never a bother; controlling nausea is a key part of cancer care. Also, share with them what you’ve tried (diet changes, ginger, bands, etc.) so they can fine-tune your plan. You know your body best.

At Cannabis Clinic, we understand that ongoing nausea can be very exhausting and scary. We encourage patients to be open about their symptoms. We will work with you to find a mix of solutions, whether it’s adjusting antiemetics, adding natural therapies, or considering medicinal cannabis that fits your needs. Don’t feel you must tolerate severe nausea; there are options. Our nurses and doctors can explain treatments in clear language and support you without judgement.

Every small step counts. For example, if you haven’t tried ginger tea yet, it might be worth sipping a cup before meals. If changing meal size hasn’t been addressed, start with one tiny change. You don’t have to overhaul everything at once. Ask your care team which small strategy to try first, and take it slowly.

Finally, if you’d like personal guidance on medicinal cannabis or other anti-nausea support, the Cannabis Clinic is here. We specialise in helping patients in New Zealand manage cancer symptoms with cannabinoids. You can book a consultation with our experienced team to discuss a tailored plan that fits your situation.

References:

1. Rao KV, Faso A. Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Optimizing Prevention and Management. Am Health Drug Benefits. 2012;5(4):232–240.

    

2. Crichton M, Marshall S, Marx W, McCarthy AL, Isenring E. Efficacy of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) in Ameliorating Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting and Chemotherapy-Related Outcomes: A Systematic Review Update and Meta-Analysis. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2019;119(12):2055–2068.

    

3. Ryan JL, Heckler CE, Roscoe JA, et al. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) reduces acute chemotherapy-induced nausea: A URCC CCOP study of 576 patients. Support Care Cancer. 2012;20(7):1479–1489.

    

4. Ertürk NE, Taşcı S. The Effects of Peppermint Oil on Nausea, Vomiting and Retching in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: An Open Label Quasi-Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Complement Ther Med. 2021;56:102587.

    

5. Roscoe JA, Morrow GR, Hickok JT, et al. The efficacy of acupressure and acustimulation wrist bands for relief of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2003;26(2):731–742.

    

6. Grimison P, Mersiades A, Kirby A, et al. Oral Cannabis Extract for Secondary Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Final Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase II/III Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(34):4040–4050.

    

7. Kemmner SF, Dörfler J, Huebner J. Cannabinoids for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in oncological therapy: a systematic review. J Cancer Surviv. 2025.