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Can Cancer Cause Dehydration?

Posted on Fri, 19 Jun 2015

Question: Can cancer cause dehydration ? Metastic colorectal cancer

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
dehydration may occur

Detailed Answer:
Advanced cancer causes anorexia (decreased appetite) and the patient may loose weight and water (dehydration). Besides that cancer complications like intestinal obstruction may also cause loss of fluid and dehydrate the patient.

Metastatic cancer may also cause increased serum calcium, which causes increased urination and further losses of fluids.

I hope I've helped!
You can contact me again if you'd like any clarification or further information.

Kind regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (29 minutes later)

My dad in hosp as has bowel inflammation they said . Can chemo cause this ? He's on oxyplatin and raltitrexed ? He's on antibiotics at present and has high stoma output ( water).
Since stated chemo his appetite has been very bad and has lost over 1 stonne in 8 weeks .

Can the appetite be cancer or chemo related ?

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
oxaliplatin may cause it

Detailed Answer:
Oxaliplatin may cause intestinal symptoms like diarrhea (more than 40%). Regarding anorexia, it can be caused by both the chemo and the advanced cancer and this is one of the most annoying symptoms.

Kind regards!

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar