How does it feel?

When Nicole learned that the lump in her breast was cancer, she felt scared. Her mother and aunt had breast cancer, and Nicole remembered that treatment had been hard on them.

Karen knew firsthand how chemotherapy could make you feel. An earlier experience with ovarian cancer had her trying various combinations of antinausea medicine to help her get over the rough spots. One day she would feel pretty good and the next she couldn't make it to work from all the queasiness. Now her cancer was recurring, and she dreaded nausea more than anything.

That's not surprising. Nicole and Karen are like many others who may become sick from the effects of chemotherapy. Patient surveys consistently rank chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) as two of the worst side effects from treatment. And many patients feel that nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy simply mean that the treatment is working. They worry that if they tell their healthcare team about feeling sick, they might have to receive a less effective dose of chemotherapy to fight the cancer.

As a result, sometimes healthcare providers are unaware of their patients' discomfort. One study showed that incidence of chemotherapy side effects for patients may be underestimated by their healthcare providers, especially in the days following treatment. It's important to talk with your healthcare team about how you are feeling throughout your course of therapy. They can help you find ways to avoid CINV, including diet and lifestyle changes and antinausea medications.

Use this site to learn more about how ALOXI^® can help. While you're exploring, be sure to learn about the Stay Strong Patient Support Program especially for people with cancer and their caregivers. This program provides information you can download that will help see you through your course of treatment.

Even if, like Karen, you've tried other antinausea medications with earlier chemotherapy, you can ask your treatment team about ALOXI. In fact, to make your conversation easier, download a list of questions, called ask your doctor, available on this site. Or try out the "I felt" calendar or "I felt" checklist that will help you and your treatment team keep track of how you're feeling the week after chemotherapy.

Remember, you may be at risk no matter what type of cancer you have or wherever you are in your treatment. Both males and females may experience CINV, though females are usually more likely to feel nauseous from their chemotherapy. Find out your level of risk on this site.

Look for online resources and education on this Web site to help you learn everything you can about your cancer and your treatment options. Find support programs in your area or download information that will help you manage nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.

When you manage CINV, you are more able to stay strong and continue with your course of treatment. And not feeling nauseous helps you focus on normal daily activities—like spending time with the people you love.