Understanding chemotherapy - Macmillan Cancer

Understanding chemotherapyYour digestive systemYour digestive system (stomach and bowels) can be affectedin different ways by chemotherapy.Feeling sick and vomitingSome chemotherapy drugs can make you feel sick (nauseous),or be sick (vomit). Not all drugs cause sickness and manypeople have no sickness at all.‘When I was having my chemo I hadlots of ginger ale and always had mintsin my handbag.’JanetThere are very effective treatments to prevent andcontrol sickness.Anti-sickness drugs If your chemotherapy is known to causesickness, you’ll be given anti-sickness drugs by injection or astablets before your chemotherapy. You’ll also be given tabletsto take at home afterwards. You should take these regularly,even if you don’t feel sick, and exactly as your doctor hasprescribed them. It’s easier to prevent sickness than to treat itonce it’s started.Contact your doctor or nurse at the hospital if:• the anti-sickness drugs don’t stop you feeling or being sick –other more effective drugs can be prescribed• you’re being sick and aren’t able to drink enough fluids.52