Dehydration happens when a person does not take in enough fluid or loses too much fluid. Your cells and organs depend on water. Without it, the human body cannot function properly. The water in your body performs many tasks:

• Transports nutrients and oxygen

• Controls heart rate and blood pressure

• Regulates body temperature

• Lubricates joints

• Protects organs and tissue, including the eyes, ears, and heart

• Creates saliva

• Removes waste and toxins

Las náuseas y los vómitos son efectos secundarios frecuentes, y a veces graves, de muchos tratamientos contra el cáncer. La quimioterapia, la radioterapia y otros tratamientos contra el cáncer pueden causar náuseas y vómitos.

Calcium is a mineral found in different places in the body, including your blood. When you have more calcium in your blood than normal, doctors call it "hypercalcemia." It is a serious condition. Up to 30% of all people with cancer will develop a high calcium level as a side effect.

A high calcium level can be treated, and it is important to talk with your doctor if you experience any symptoms. Left untreated, a high calcium level can cause severe problems, like kidney failure, and it can even be life-threatening.

Weight loss is common among people with cancer. It may be the first visible sign of the disease. In fact, 40% of people say they had unexplained weight loss when they were first diagnosed with cancer. Weight loss associated with cancer may be different than other types of weight loss. Doctors refer to a weight loss syndrome called “cachexia,” which is characterized by increased metabolism, loss of skeletal muscle, fatigue, loss of appetite, and decreased quality of life. Cachexia is very common in patients with incurable cancer.

A bowel obstruction is when a blockage stops food and liquids from moving through your digestive tract. It can also be called an intestinal obstruction, blocked intestine, or a gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction.

There are many possible causes of a bowel obstruction. It is more common in people with certain kinds of cancer and in people with advanced cancer.

Constipation happens when stools (feces) become less frequent, painful, or dry and difficult to pass. Constipation starts when the body absorbs more water or food moves through the bowels more slowly. It is a common symptom for people with cancer. There are treatments available to help relieve constipation and make patients more comfortable when passing stools.