A simple, readily-accessible drug is giving hope to breast cancer sufferers by reducing the most debilitating chemotherapy side-effect

Palmerston North-based cancer research shows when patients take the heartburn medicine pantoprazole , their chances of serious nausea and vomiting reduce significantly.

The side-effects often occur two to five days post-treatment.

Palmerston North Hospital oncologist Richard Isaacs says it's a game-changer for medicine, as it has no drug-drug interactions, and it's cheap as chips.

It does require a prescription and people wanting to take it should discuss with their oncologist - but it's readily available now.