Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to investigate the level of nausea & vomiting, anorexia and food intake during the periods of chemotherapy and 14 days after discharge. METHOD: The subjects were 40 cancer patients(cervix cancer : 20 patients, stomach cancer: 20 patients) who had chemotherapy with Cisplatin & 5-Fu. Data were analyzed by mean & standard deviation, ANCOVA. RESULT: 1. The severity of nausea & vomiting with anorexia in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy was the highest at the 3rd day and then it gradually decreased. At the 14th day after discharge, nausea & vomiting with anorexia still remained with very low levels. 2. The amount of food intake was the lowest on the 3rd day and then gradually increased. However, it was 53.3-72.5% of the ordinary food intake on the 14th day after discharge. Calorie intake was 625.31 Kcal on the 3rd day and 1130.92 Kcal on the 7th day after discharge. 3. There were no significant differences in nausea & vomiting, anorexia, food intake, calory intake between those with cervix cancer and stomach cancer. CONCLUSION: In cancer patients nausea & vomiting and anorexia were severe and food intake was very poor during chemotherapy but afterwards they were gradually improved, but were not completely recovered on the 14th day after discharge. Therefore the nursing intervention regarding the increase of food intake was necessary during chemotherapy and after discharge.

• Keywords: Cancer chemotherapy; Nausea; Vomiting; Anorexia; Food intake