Ondansetron With/Out Dexamethasone to Prevent Vomiting in Patients Receiving Radiation to the Upper Abdomen

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Cancer patients who are scheduled to receive radiotherapy within the next 3 weeks
• * Total dose at least 2,000 cGy delivered in at least 15 fractions
• * 1 fraction per day, 5 days per week
• * Treatment field to include an area of at least 80 cm2 in the anterior/posterior direction encompassing the upper abdomen
• At risk of developing radiation-induced emesis
• No emesis (retching and/or vomiting) or nausea with severity greater than 2 within the past week
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 16 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-3
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Not specified
• Hepatic:
• No jaundice
• No moderate to severe hepatic dysfunction
• Renal:
• Not specified
• Gastrointestinal:
• No active peptic ulcer
• No lactose intolerance
• Other:
• No concurrent condition or illness that contraindicates corticosteroids, serotonin antagonists, or prochlorperazine (e.g., diabetes mellitus)
• No prior unusual or allergic reaction to a serotonin antagonist (ondansetron, dolasetron, or granisetron), corticosteroid, or prochlorperazine
• No condition that would preclude accessibility to treatment or follow-up
• Able and willing to complete diary and quality of life questionnaires in either English or French
• Able to swallow
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 1 week since prior cytotoxic therapy
• No concurrent cytotoxic therapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• No concurrent corticosteroids other than topical or inhaled preparations
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 1 week since prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent cranial radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• At least 2 days since prior medication with antiemetic intent