Anticipatory Nausea and Vomiting Associated with Cancer Chemotherapy

Abstract

To the Editor: In their recent letter in the February 18 issue, Morrow et al.¹ pointed out that nausea and vomiting before treatment are reasonably common in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and are largely refractory to standard antiemetic treatment. Others^{2 , 3} have also noted anticipatory nausea and vomiting occurring in patients receiving chemotherapy.We interviewed 17 patients who were receiving chemotherapy for a variety of cancers. All patients had post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting for which traditional antiemetics were not effective. Nine of the 17 patients (53 per cent) reported nausea before treatment; 2 of the 9 reported both anticipatory nausea and . . .