Are you feeling nauseous after melanoma treatment and looking for relief? You’re not alone. Nausea is a common side effect of melanoma treatment. “Nausea is my companion today,” wrote one member of MyMelanomaTeam.

While it might seem like nausea from melanoma treatment is unavoidable, there are ways to find relief and even prevent nausea. It’s important to talk to your cancer care team about any side effects you experience from treatment, including nausea, so they can help you feel better and keep your treatment on track. There are also several steps you can take on your own to help manage nausea. First, let’s go over melanoma treatments that may cause nausea as a side effect.

Which Melanoma Treatments Can Cause Nausea?

Many treatments for advanced melanoma can cause nausea as a side effect. Experts say that 70 percent to 80 percent of people with cancer experience nausea or vomiting from chemotherapy, or chemo. Radiation therapy can also cause nausea, especially if the radiation is directed at the stomach area. Nausea is also a common side effect of some targeted therapies, including BRAF inhibitors and MEK inhibitors, as well as immune checkpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy. Additionally, nausea may occur after surgery as a side effect of anesthesia or pain medications.

Tips for Relieving Nausea

You can make several changes to what and how you eat to help reduce nausea and make it easier to get the nutrition you need. There are also medications to help with nausea.

1. Ask for Anti-Nausea Medicine

Anti-nausea medicines (also called antiemetics) can help prevent and relieve nausea and vomiting in people with cancer. Commonly prescribed anti-nausea medicines include:

• Ondansetron (Zofran)
• Promethazine (Phenergan)
• Prochlorperazine (Compazine)

It’s important to talk to your oncology team about your nausea. They can help you figure out the best anti-nausea medicine for you and tell you when to take it for best results. It can take a little time for anti-nausea medicine to kick in, so be sure to take it as soon as you start feeling nauseous. Take slow, deep breaths while you wait for it to work. Some experts also recommend taking your anti-nausea medicine 30 to 60 minutes before eating, the day before treatment, and for two days after treatment.

2. Eat Small, Easy-To-Digest Meals

Eating small meals throughout the day can help with nausea when you’re going through treatment. Smaller meals put less strain on your stomach, which may help prevent nausea. Make sure your meals are easy to chew and swallow, too.

Here are some easy-to-digest foods you can try:

• Plain yogurt
• Salty, dry foods like crackers or pretzels
• Dry toast
• Bland cereals, like oatmeal, cream of wheat, or grits
• Plain rice or noodles
• Boiled potatoes
• Sherbet
• Baked or broiled skinless chicken
• Soft, bland vegetables and fruits, like canned peaches
• Angel food cake
• Ice chips or popsicles

If you’re having trouble eating or keeping food down, try to choose foods that are high in calories and easy to eat. This way, you can still get the energy you need without overwhelming your stomach. It’s best to eat these foods in small amounts. Here are some examples:

• Milkshakes
• Pudding
• Ice cream or sherbet
• Yogurt

“I get smoothie pouches, the kind made for babies, so I can get some nutrition even when I’m too tired, nauseous, or my teeth hurt too much to eat regular food,” shared a member of MyMelanomaTeam.

In general, try to avoid fried, greasy, fatty, or spicy foods. Eating cold foods or foods at room temperature may also help with nausea.

It may help to rest after eating. If you do so, try to sit upright and avoid lying down for at least two hours after eating.

3. Eat What Sounds Good

When you’re dealing with nausea, thinking about eating can make you anxious. But it’s important not to let your stomach get too empty, as that can make nausea worse.

Choose foods that sound good to you in that moment, as they might be easier to eat. Be careful with your favorite foods, though, as they can start to remind you of feeling sick after treatment.

If the smell of food cooking makes you feel worse, try to avoid preparing meals when you’re nauseous. Instead, ask a family member, caregiver, or friend to help with meals, or buy ready-made food. Make sure to eat in a cool, well-ventilated place to stay comfortable and keep strong smells away.

4. Stay Well Hydrated

Be sure to stay hydrated with cold, clear liquids throughout the day. Making sure you get plenty of fluids not only helps with nausea but can also reduce treatment-related fatigue, kidney problems, and other side effects.

Water is always a good option for staying hydrated, but other fluids can help reduce nausea while adding some flavor. Try clear liquids, such as:

• Clear broth
• Herbal tea, such as peppermint
• Sports drinks
• Fruit juice, such as cranberry or apple
• Clear carbonated drinks, such as ginger ale or lemon-lime-flavored soda

For fizzy drinks, it may help to let the can sit for 10 minutes after opening it to reduce carbonation. This can help prevent burping, which can be uncomfortable when you feel nauseous. It’s best to avoid caffeinated sodas, as caffeine can upset your stomach.

5. Drink or Eat Ginger Products

Gingerroot is a traditional natural remedy for upset stomachs. While the strong taste isn’t for everyone, for those who like it, it can be an easy and tasty way to help with nausea.

Here are some ways to use ginger when your stomach is feeling unsettled:

• Chew candied ginger.
• Suck on ginger lozenges or ginger candies.
• Drink ginger tea (store-bought or homemade by boiling fresh ginger in water).
• Add grated or sliced ginger to meals, such as a veggie stir-fry.
• Drink ginger ale.

6. Try Sour Foods

Although bland foods are often recommended for nausea, sour foods can also help. It may sound strange, but doctors and researchers note that eating sour foods may relieve nausea. Eating something sour also may help when you have taste changes from cancer treatment.

Here are some sour foods to try when you’re nauseous:

• Pickles
• Sour hard candies
• Lemon or lime (squeeze some in water or suck on a slice)
• Lemon sherbet

These types of foods aren’t meant to fill you up but, rather, to settle your stomach.

7. Try Complementary and Integrative Treatments

Complementary and integrative treatments are nonmedical methods that can help reduce nausea by making you feel more in control and relaxed, and they may even distract you from feeling nauseous.

Research shows that the following integrative methods can help reduce nausea and vomiting:

• Acupuncture — A traditional Chinese method in which a licensed acupuncturist puts thin needles in certain points on your body
• Guided imagery — A technique in which you think about a place that’s relaxing to you and use all your senses to picture it
• Relaxation techniques — These include mindfulness techniques, such as breathing exercises, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation (tensing and relaxing your muscles)

These therapies might also help with anticipatory nausea. Anticipatory nausea is nausea caused by certain triggers. For example, the smell of a chemotherapy treatment center might trigger nausea for some people.

You can use integrative treatments in combination with anti-nausea medications. If you’d like to try these treatments to help relieve your nausea, talk to your health care team. They may be able to refer you to a therapist or specialist trained in these methods.

Some complementary therapies, like acupressure, can be done at home. By applying pressure to a specific point on your wrist, you may relieve nausea. You might also try antisickness wristbands (motion sickness bracelets) that use acupressure to help control nausea. Ask your health care provider for tips on acupressure and recommendations for acupressure wristbands.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyMelanomaTeam is the social network for people with melanoma and their loved ones. On MyMelanomaTeam, more than 1,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with melanoma.

Have you experienced nausea from melanoma treatment? What helped you get relief from nausea? Share your tips in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.