Cognitive disorders and delirium may be complications of cancer and cancer treatment, especially in people with advanced cancer.

In cancer patients, cognitive disorders and delirium may be due to the direct effects that cancer has on the brain, such as the pressure of a growing tumor. Cognitive disorders and delirium may also be caused by indirect effects of cancer or its treatment, including the following:

• Organ failure.



• Electrolyte imbalances: Electrolytes are important minerals (including salt, potassium, calcium, and phosphorous) that are needed to keep the heart, kidneys, nerves, and muscles working correctly.



• Infection.



• Symptoms caused by the cancer but that occur apart from the local or distant spread of the tumor (paraneoplastic syndromes), such as inflammation of the brain.



• Medication side effects: Patients with cancer usually take many medications. Some drugs have side effects that include delirium and confusion. The effects of these drugs usually go away after the drug is stopped.



• Withdrawal from drugs that depress (slow down) the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

Risk factors for delirium include having a serious disease and having more than one disease.

Other conditions besides having cancer may place a patient at risk for developing delirium. Risk factors include the following:

• Advanced cancer or other serious illness.
• Having more than one disease.
• Older age.
• Previous mental disorder, such as dementia.
• Low levels of albumin (protein) in the blood.
• Infection.
• Taking medications that affect the mind or behavior.
• Taking high doses of pain medication.

Early identification of risk factors may help prevent the onset of delirium or may reduce the length of time it takes to correct it.

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