If you’ve experienced nausea, you know that it can be more than just annoying. It can affect your quality of life and disrupt your daily routine. Nausea can make it hard to concentrate, lower your energy levels, and prevent you from participating in activities you normally enjoy. It can also make you lose your appetite, which makes it hard to get the nutrition you need to stay healthy.

Nausea is the queasy sensation in your stomach before you feel the urge to vomit. If you have a desmoid tumor, you may have nausea as a symptom of the growing tumor or as a side effect of your treatment.

In this article, we explain why a desmoid tumor might cause nausea and offer six tips to help you feel better.

How Do Desmoid Tumors Cause Nausea?

Nausea can be a symptom of a desmoid tumor in your abdomen (stomach) or a side effect of desmoid tumor treatments, such as chemotherapy or targeted treatments.

Desmoid tumors grow in connective tissue — the flexible tissues that support your organs.

If a desmoid tumor begins to grow in your abdomen, the tumor may press on your stomach or intestines as it gets larger, causing nausea and discomfort. The growing tumor can cause other symptoms associated with nausea, including:

• Bloating
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation

Some treatments for desmoid tumors can also cause nausea, including:

• Chemotherapy — Methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and dacarbazine
• Radiation therapy
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also called NSAIDs
• Targeted therapies — Nirogacestat (Ogsiveo) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like sorafenib (Nexavar), imatinib (Gleevec), and pazopanib (Votrient)

No matter what’s causing your nausea, simple changes in your diet, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest can make a big difference. Some people find relief through natural remedies like ginger. It’s also helpful to avoid strong odors and keep your environment cool.

1. Change Your Eating Habits

You may consider eating more frequent, small meals. Instead of three big meals, try eating five or six smaller meals throughout the day. This strategy can also prevent an empty stomach, which can make nausea worse.

Choose foods that appeal to you. However, you may want to avoid eating your favorite foods, as you may associate these foods with feeling sick. Bland, soft foods that are easy to digest may be a good choice. Examples of foods to eat when you’re feeling nauseous include:

• Eggs
• Boiled or baked fish or poultry
• A cold sandwich
• Crackers
• Plain pasta or rice
• Potatoes
• Popsicles
• Gelatin
• Tart foods, like lemons or pickles

When you’re feeling nauseous, avoid foods that are:

• Fried
• Spicy
• Strong-smelling
• High in fat

Some people find that nausea is worse when they can smell strong cooking odors. Avoid eating in the same room as the food was cooked and ensure good ventilation. You may also want to try eating cold foods that don’t need to be cooked when you’re not feeling well. Eating foods that aren’t too hot or too cold may be easier when you feel nauseous.

On days that you feel nauseous, only drink a small amount of fluid while you eat to help avoid feeling bloated. If possible, don’t lie down right away after eating. Sit up or lie down with your head elevated for at least an hour after you eat to help with digestion.

Talk to your health care team about the best diet for you.

2. Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can make nausea worse, so make sure you’re drinking enough fluids. In addition to helping with nausea, staying hydrated can help improve other symptoms and medication side effects, such as extreme tiredness and kidney problems.

It can be difficult to make sure you’re drinking enough fluids when you feel nauseous. The following tips may help you drink more water to ensure you’re properly hydrated:

• Take frequent, small sips of fluids throughout the day.
• Make sure your fluids aren’t too hot or too cold.
• Add lemon juice to your water to make it easier to drink.

You may find it easier to drink cold, clear fluids on days that you feel nauseous, such as:

• Water
• Apple juice
• Tea
• Ginger ale
• Lemon-lime flavored soda

3. Take Anti-Nausea Medication

There are several different anti-nausea medications — also called antiemetic drugs. The most common medication used to treat nausea is ondansetron (Zofran). Ondansetron works by blocking nausea-causing substances in your body. Possible side effects include constipation, diarrhea, tiredness, and headache.

If you can’t take ondansetron, or if it doesn’t work well enough, your health care provider may prescribe another type of anti-nausea medication, such as:

• Aprepitant (Emend)
• Prochlorperazine
• Promethazine
• Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• Metoclopramide (Reglan)
• Dexamethasone

The best type of anti-nausea medication for you depends on what’s causing your nausea. Therefore, one type of anti-nausea medication may not work as well for you as it does for others due to the different ways in which they work. Talk to your health care provider about the best anti-nausea treatment options.

4. Try Ginger Root

Ginger root is a natural remedy for nausea that may be worth a try. Examples of ways you can use ginger root to help ease your nausea include:

• Eating candied ginger
• Adding fresh ginger root to your cooking
• Steeping fresh ginger in hot water to make ginger tea

Talk to your health care provider before you take ginger root for nausea. Although side effects from ginger root are rare, high amounts of ginger can cause heartburn, diarrhea, or mouth irritation. Additionally, ginger root can interact with some medications, including blood thinners, diabetes medications, and high blood pressure medications.

5. Take Complementary or Alternative Treatments

Complementary or alternative treatments for nausea are nondrug treatments that can help you feel more in control of your nausea. This treatment works by relaxing you and distracting you from nausea.

Examples of complementary or alternative treatments for nausea include:

• Hypnosis
• Relaxation techniques
• Guided meditation
• Acupuncture or acupressure
• Music therapy

6. Keep Track of Your Symptoms

It may help to keep a record of when you feel nauseous and what you were doing around that time. This way, you can avoid foods, drinks, and activities that make you nauseous. You may also learn what times of day you feel better so you can plan your meals for these times.

A log of when you feel nauseous and the cause can also help guide your discussion when you follow up with your health care team to develop the best treatment plan.

When Should You Contact a Health Care Provider About Nausea?

Don’t hesitate to contact your health care team with any questions or concerns about your treatment or side effects. There are some symptoms associated with nausea you should watch for that need immediate care, including:

• Inhaling material you vomited up
• Having blood or material that looks like coffee grounds in your vomit
• Struggling to eat or drink more than 4 cups of fluid for two days
• Feeling so nauseous you can’t take your medications
• Feeling confused
• Losing more than 2 pounds over one to two days
• Having dark urine
• Urinating less frequently
• Having a fever
• Experiencing new or worsening pain

Nausea can be tough to handle when you have a desmoid tumor, but there are ways to feel better. Eating small, frequent meals, staying hydrated, and using natural remedies like ginger can help. Always talk to your doctor for advice and treatment. Taking these steps can help you manage your nausea and improve your daily life.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyDesmoidTumorTeam is the social network for people with desmoid tumors and their loved ones. On MyDesmoidTumorTeam, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with desmoid tumors.

Do you experience nausea as a symptom of a desmoid tumor or your treatment? Do you have any tips on how to improve nausea? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.