[Management of emesis in cancer patients]

Abstract

Nausea and vomiting are often seen in cancer patients. They can be acute (induced by chemotherapy or radiotherapy...), or chronic in patients with advanced disease. A high percentage of patients (70% to 80%) suffer from chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. The incidence and severity of these symptoms depend of the nature of chemotherapy, doses, other drugs used in association, and psychological status of the patients. International guidelines have improved the management of nausea and vomiting, with the use of new drugs like setrons. Despite this, optimal care of refractory and delayed nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy is still a matter of debate. Chronic nausea and vomiting concern more than 50% of patients in palliative situation. The origin is often multifactorial. Management consists in aetiologic and symptomatic treatment in order to improve the patients' quality of life.