Managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. A paradigm for supportive care.

Abstract

Clinical research on the problem of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (N & V) originated out of the necessity of keeping patients engaged with aggressive treatment protocols. The degree of sophistication available today is reviewed. A supportive care model is proposed for describing the developments as a six-step paradigm, ending with the suggestion that institutionalization is a final critical step in applying the results of research. The proposed model for control of N & V is suggested as a paradigm for the diffusion of a new technology designed to alleviate some aspect associated with suffering from the effects of cancer or its treatments.