Ginger in Treating Nausea in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Cancer

OBJECTIVES: * Compare the efficacy of 1 course of ginger vs placebo when administered in regimens containing a 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist antiemetic and dexamethasone (or the equivalent dose of IV methylprednisolone) in controlling chemotherapy-related nausea at course 2 of chemotherapy in patients with cancer. * Compare the efficacy of 3 different doses of ginger in controlling chemotherapy-related nausea in these patients. * Determine the adverse effects of ginger when given 3 days before chemotherapy administration in these patients. * Determine the adverse effects of these antiemetic regimens during the 4 days after chemotherapy. * Compare the chemotherapy-related anticipatory nausea in patients treated with these antiemetic regimens. * Compare the quality of life during the 4 days after chemotherapy in patients treated with these antiemetic regimens. * Compare the chemotherapy-related nausea at course 3 of chemotherapy in these patients after 2 courses of ginger vs placebo. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to participating center. Patients are randomized to 1 of 4 treatment arms. Day 1 of each course is defined as the day of chemotherapy administration. * Placebo: Patients receive oral placebo twice daily on days -3 to 3 of chemotherapy courses 2 and 3. * 0.5g Ginger: Patients receive oral low-dose ginger and oral placebo twice daily on days -3 to 3 of chemotherapy courses 2 and 3. * 1.0g Ginger: Patients receive oral intermediate-dose ginger and oral placebo twice daily on days -3 to 3 of chemotherapy courses 2 and 3. * 1.5g Ginger: Patients receive oral high-dose ginger twice daily on days -3 to 3 of chemotherapy courses 2 and 3. Patients in each arm also continue receiving their scheduled antiemetic regimen comprising a 5-hydroxytryptamine type-3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist (ondansetron, granisetron, tropisetron, and dolasetron mesylate) and dexamethasone (DM) (or the equivalent dose of IV methylprednisolone (MePRDL)) on day 1 of courses 2 and 3. Symptoms are assessed on day -3 to day 1 of courses 2 and 3 and on days 1-4 of courses 1-3. Quality of life is assessed on day 4 of courses 1-3. Nausea and vomiting are assessed 4 times daily on days 1-4 of courses 1-3. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 706 patients will be accrued for this study within 3 years.