Introduction

Abstract

From a cancer patient’s point of view, nausea and vomiting are the most distressing complications of chemotherapy, but they can also be caused by a variety of other conditions that one should always consider before beginning antiemetic treatment. Nausea and vomiting affect very negatively the psychological status, nutritional balance, social relationships, and ultimately, quality of life of the patient. Furthermore, when nausea and vomiting are caused by chemotherapy, and this is the most frequent situation in cancer patients, their intensity and persistence can bring the patient to a refusal of treatment, even if it is potentially curative. Thus, every effort should be made to clarify the real causes of nausea and vomiting and to treat these symptoms adequately.