Cancer and sickness (nausea)
There could be lots of different reasons why you feel sick, including the cancer itself and its treatment. Knowing when you might feel sick and having ideas of how to prevent or treat sickness could make it easier to cope.
Cancer itself could cause you to feel or be sick. This could be because of chemicals made by the cancer, tumours blocking the digestive system or raised pressure from a brain tumour.
Feeling or being sick is most common with some chemotherapy drugs, some types of radiotherapy and some targeted drugs. Anti sickness medication can help. Not everyone is sick with cancer treatment.
Sickness can begin at different points of your cancer treatment. This could be before, during or after treatment.
There are things other than cancer or cancer treatment that can make you feel sick. You may feel sick because of pain, anxiety, taste or smell.
Last reviewed: 16 Aug 2023
Next review due: 16 Aug 2026
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