Feeling sick

Sometimes cancer in the abdominal area can cause the bowel to become blocked. This is called bowel obstruction. Because waste matter (faeces) cannot pass through the bowel easily, symptoms may include feeling sick or vomiting.

To relieve these symptoms, you may have a small tube (stent) put in to keep the bowel open. The stent is inserted through the rectum using a flexible tube called an endoscope.

Feeling nauseous may be a symptom of high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcaemia). If the cancer spreads to the bones, the cancer cells make the bone break down and release calcium into the blood, causing you to feel tired and drowsy.

Hypercalcaemia is more common in some types of advanced cancer. You may be given drugs to lower high calcium levels. These are called bisphosphonates, and are usually given through a drip into a vein.

• Eat small meals or snacks 5–6 times during the day. Going without food for long periods can make nausea
  worse.
• Choose cold foods or foods at room temperature, such as sandwiches, salads, stewed fruit or jelly.
• Have food or drink with ginger, e.g. ginger ale, ginger tea or ginger biscuits.
• Take anti-nausea medicines as prescribed. Let the doctor know if the medicines don’t seem to be working.
• Avoid fried, greasy or spicy foods or those that have strong smells.
• Use stress reduction techniques, such as meditation.