Nausea
Feeling sick in the stomach (nauseated) is an unpleasant symptom experienced by some people with cancer of unknown primary (CUP).
Learn more about:
What causes nausea?
Nausea can be caused by the cancer itself. It can also be a side effect of some types of chemotherapy, but anti-nausea medicines can often prevent or manage this.
Other causes of nausea include:
- treatment with radiation therapy
- stress or anxiety
- too much or too little of a mineral in the blood, e.g. calcium
- drugs used to control other symptoms, e.g. morphine for pain
- the kidneys not working properly
- an oral thrush infection, sometimes related to chemotherapy
- a bowel blockage (obstruction) or constipation
- increased pressure around the brain as a result of cancer in the brain or cancer affecting the fluid around the spinal cord.
Tips for easing nausea
- Eat small meals as often as you can.
- Eat cold foods, such as sandwiches, salads, stewed fruit or jelly.
- Avoid strong odours and cooking smells.
- Have food or drink that contains ginger, such as ginger ale, ginger tea or ginger cake.
- Use stress-reduction techniques such as meditation or relaxation.
- Talk to your doctor or nurse about anti-nausea drugs or treatments that can help relieve constipation.
For more on this, see Nutrition and cancer, and listen to our podcast on Appetite Loss and Nausea.
More resources
Prof Linda Mileshkin, Medical Oncologist, Clinical Researcher, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Christine Bradfield, Consumer; Cindy Bryant, Consumer; Dr Maria Cigolini, Head, Department of Palliative Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and Clinical Lecturer, The University of Sydney, NSW; Mary Duffy, Advanced Practice Nurse and Nurse Coordinator, Lung Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Karen Hall, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Dr Andrew Oar, Radiation Oncologist, Icon Cancer Centre, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Dr Siobhan O’Neill, Medical Oncologist, Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre, NSW; Prof Penelope Schofield, Department of Psychological Sciences and the Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, and Head, Behavioural Science in Cancer, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Frank Stoss, Consumer.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
View all publications or call 13 11 20 for free printed copies.
Need to talk?
Support services
Coping with cancer?
Ask a health professional or someone who’s been there, or find a support group or forum
Work and cancer
Information for employees, employers and workplaces dealing with cancer
Cancer information
Nutrition and cancer
Ways to manage nausea and lack of appetite during cancer treatment
Nutrition and cancer help for carers
Tips for preparing food for someone with cancer