[Appetite loss, nausea, vomiting]

Abstract

Appetite loss, nausea and vomiting are most common gastrointestinal distress in patients with advanced cancers. It is worthwhile to relieve these symptoms for improving their quality of life (QOL), an inadequate treatment, on the contrary, will increase their distressing symptoms. To avoid this, it is essential to clarify the cause of illness, especially to find out whether it is due to a complete mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction or not. If it is so, the use of metoclopramide is a contraindication. Practically, the combined use of octreotide acetate, steroids and morphine will be effective to manage a severe gastrointestinal distress such as an obstinately nausea and vomiting.