The efficacy of treatment of nausea and emesis in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative home care

Objective: Nausea and emesis are frequent symptoms in advanced cancer.

Aim of study: To assess the frequency and severity of nausea and emesis in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative home care.

Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of 120 patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative home care for longer than 7 days in years 2005-2007 during four-week observation. The frequency and severity of nausea and emesis were evaluated.

Results: The study group included 64 women (53.3%) and 56 men (46.7%). The age of patients varied 46-90 years-old. The follow-up varied 28-713 days. In 113 patients (94.2%) one cancer was diagnosed, but in 7 patients (5.8%) two synchronous primary cancers were found. The significant reduction in the frequency of nausea and emesis between the first and the third week and the first and the fourth week of observation was found. The severity of nausea and emesis was reduced in the four-week follow-up, but the major decrease was observed between the first and the second week (17.3%). The tendency was reduced between the second and third week of observation.

Conclusions: In four week observation of patients with advanced cancer in palliative care, the frequency as well as the severity of nausea and emesis were reduced. The major decrease in the severity of nausea and emesis was obtained between the first and the second week, and the major decrease in frequency of the symptoms was observed between the first and the third week of observation.