Evening all, have spent all day in A&E with my Dad. Dehydrated due to diarrhoea and not eating/drinking due to...

I'm sorry you and your dad are having such a difficult day. Dehydration combined with nausea and poor intake is a serious concern, especially for someone with oesophageal cancer who already faces swallowing challenges.

What's happening (the clinical picture): Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common side effects during cancer treatment, but they can quickly lead to dehydration and malnutrition—which then makes everything worse. The fact that his current anti-sickness medication isn't working well is important information for his care team.

Immediate priorities (for the A&E/hospital team): Since he's already in A&E, the medical team should be addressing:

• IV fluids to correct dehydration (often more effective than oral intake when nausea is severe)
• Medication review - if current anti-sickness drugs aren't working, there are other options
• Nutritional support - this might include nutritional drinks, feeding tubes, or IV nutrition depending on his situation

Questions to ask the A&E/hospital team RIGHT NOW:

1. "Can we try a different anti-sickness medication? What other options are available?"
2. "Is IV hydration the best approach while we sort out the nausea?"
3. "Should we involve the nutrition team or palliative care team to help with eating/drinking strategies?"
4. "Are there any triggers making the nausea worse (medications, timing, food types)?"
5. "What's the plan for managing this at home once he's discharged?"

Why this matters: According to the American Cancer Society, managing side effects like nausea is crucial for cancer patients because poor nutrition and dehydration can weaken the body and affect treatment tolerance. For oesophageal cancer specifically, swallowing difficulties compound this challenge.

Support resources:

• Ask if the hospital has a dietitian or nutritionist who specializes in cancer patients
• Palliative care teams (even early in treatment) are excellent at managing symptoms like nausea
• Your dad's oncology team should be looped in if they aren't already

The good news: nausea and vomiting are very manageable problems—it often just takes finding the right medication or combination, plus practical strategies.

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare team for personalized medical advice and decisions.

Wishing your dad a smoother recovery. This must be exhausting for you both. 💙