Aversion Conditioning in Response to Cancer and Cancer Treatment

Cancer patients appear to be at high risk for the development of conditioned responses that can contribute to the discomfort they experience as a consequence of their treatments as well as their disease. Chemotherapy treatments which induce nausea and vomiting can be associated with the acquisition of aversions to novel and familiar foods. Such treatments can also lead to the conditioning of anticipatory symptoms of nau.sea and vomiting. The disease itself can lead to the development of food aversions and appetite problems. An understanding of the learning processes underlying the generation of these symptoms can contribute importantly to the development of successful behavioral inter-