Evaluating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and food intake in patients with gynecologic cancer

Background/Aim: Treatments for controlling delayed nausea after chemotherapy are inadequate, potentially inciting malnutrition. We sought to determine the incidence of nausea, anorexia, and food intake after chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: Subjects were females with gynecological cancers who underwent chemotherapy between 2008 and 2013. Nausea, anorexia, and food intake in the acute (day 1) and delayed phases (days 2 and 3) were retrospectively evaluated. Results: Subjects included 156 females. Chemotherapies were highly (HEC; n=24) and moderately emetogenic (MEC; n=132). There were no significant between-group differences for anorexia control during either the acute or the delayed phase and both groups demonstrated significantly worse control of nausea during the delayed phase. In the HEC group, food intake was significantly reduced on days 2 and 3 compared with day 1. Conclusion: Rates of nausea, anorexia, and food intake significantly worsened over time, particularly in the MEC group. Current supportive therapies appear inadequate and should be improved.