Cancer and the treatments implemented by a cancer specialist to control and hopefully force it into remission can be hard on your body. Nausea is a common side effect of many treatments and can lower your quality of life. If you’re struggling with cancer, you’re not alone. Indeed, according to the National Cancer Institute, the rate of new cases of cancer (aka cancer incidence) is about 442 per 100,000 men and women annually. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to manage the side effects of cancer treatment, including nausea.
Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals
Many folks eat two or three large meals per day. This can be taxing on your digestive system, especially when you’re already struggling to cope with cancer treatment. It’s best to break things up, enjoying smaller but more frequent meals. Not only could this help with nausea, but it may also bolster your overall health.
Consume BRAT Foods
Cancer treatment can be quite a nuisance, but BRAT foods can help. We’re referring to bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These four foods offer a good mix of vitamins and nutrients. They are also relatively easy for the body to digest and can help absorb stomach acid. When in doubt and feeling queasy, BRAT foods are a generally safe and simple choice.
Try Ginger Root
One of the best natural remedies for combating an upset stomach and nausea is ginger root. You can add fresh ginger root to your meals or chew on candied ginger in moderation. Ginger root tea can also settle the stomach. For better or worse, however, ginger root is an acquired taste and some patients simply won’t find it palatable.
Avoid Spicy Greasy Foods
Many of your favorite foods might be spicy, greasy, or both. Unfortunately, such foods are hard on the digestive system and can increase the risk of stomachaches and indigestion. If consumed at all, you should limit the portions of spicy and greasy foods that you take in.
Drink Flat Ginger Ale Soda
Both lemon-lime and ginger ale soda are a go-to home remedy for nausea. When you’re struggling with cancer, however, you’ll want to reduce burping and acidity. Simply by opening a can or bottle of soda and letting it go flat, you can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the beverage, thus reducing acidity and burping.
The above list is far from exhaustive. Various medications and lifestyle adjustments can help. It’s wise to speak with a cancer specialist to develop a care plan for managing the nausea associated with cancer treatment. Need assistance? Contact us at Palo Verde Cancer Specialists right away.
Posted: 11/14/23
