Nausea and vomiting (symptom of pancreatic cancer)

• Sometimes the disease itself causes these symptoms due to the space it is taking up inside your body. 

• The cancer may be preventing you from being able to digest nutrients in the normal way (malabsorption). 

• Some treatments and medications may cause nausea and vomiting such as chemotherapy.  

• Sometimes constipation or intestinal dysmotility is the cause. This is when the body is not moving food through the intestine as it should. 

Nausea and vomiting can be caused by the tumour due to an obstruction (blockage). A CT scan may reveal the blockage and you may have a stent fitted in the area affected. Whatever the reason, there are ways of relieving nausea and vomiting. 

If you have malabsorption, you may notice that you have lost weight, and your stools are pale, large and very smelly. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy will allow you to digest your food better and prevent the sickness. 

Dietitians can give you advice about your intake and you can ask to be referred by your medical team. You can have oral, liquid, injected or syringe driver medication for nausea and vomiting. You may need to try several different medications and doses before you find what works for you. 

Other tips include eating foods or sipping drinks with ginger or mint flavours.