Definition

Nausea and vomiting that may occur before a chemotherapy treatment session begins in a patient who has had chemotherapy before. ANV is caused by triggers, such as the sights, smells, or sounds of the treatment room. For example, a patient who smells an alcohol swab when starting chemotherapy may later become nauseous or vomit at the smell of an alcohol swab. The more chemotherapy sessions a patient has, the more likely it is that ANV will occur. Also called anticipatory nausea and vomiting.