OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the efficacy of acupressure and acustimulation as adjuncts to standard serotonin antiemetics in reducing acute nausea (day of treatment) and delayed nausea (1-4 days following treatment) associated with cisplatin or doxorubicin based chemotherapy in cancer patients. II. Evaluate the efficacy of acupressure and acustimulation in reducing acute and delayed vomiting and in improving quality of life in cancer patients. III. Investigate the relationship between expectations for the development of chemotherapy-related nausea/vomiting and its actual occurrence in cancer patients.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are stratified according to chemotherapy agent and research site. Patients are randomized to one of three treatment arms. Arm I: Patients receive standard antiemetic therapy with serotonin receptor antagonists. Arm II: Patients receive standard antiemetic therapy with serotonin receptor antagonists and wear an acupressure wrist band (an elastic band equipped with a small plastic button used to apply pressure to a specific point on the wrist) continuously for 5 consecutive days except when necessary to avoid immersion in water. Patients may wear the band on either wrist, including alternating between wrists if desired. Arm III: Patients receive standard antiemetic therapy with serotonin receptor antagonists and wear an acustimulation wrist band (a portable transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) device) continuously for 5 consecutive days except when necessary to avoid immersion in water. Patients may wear the band on either wrist, including alternating between wrists if desired, and may adjust the intensity of stimulation for optimum effectiveness. All patients complete a questionnaire concerning expectations of nausea and other side effects prior to receiving chemotherapy with cisplatin and doxorubicin. Patients in arms II and III complete this measure after the wrist band is in position. All patients complete a questionnaire and a 5 day diary at home concerning nausea and emesis following the first chemotherapy treatment, and then complete a quality of life questionnaire on the fourth day following treatment.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 700 patients will be accrued for this study over 3 years.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of cancer No symptomatic brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: No cardiac pacemaker Other: No clinical evidence of current or impending bowel obstruction Able to understand English

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent interferon Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Concurrent cisplatin or doxorubicin based chemotherapy required No multiple day doses of cisplatin, doxorubicin, hexamethylmelamine, dacarbazine, nitrosourea or streptozocin Other concurrent chemotherapy allowed on 1 or multiple days Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified Other: Serotonin receptor antagonist antiemetic (ondansetron, granisetron, tropisetron, or dolasetron mesylate) required