[Anorexia, nausea and vomiting in cancer patients].

Anorexia, nausea and vomiting are inevitable side effects of cancer and its treatment. They not only adversely affect the patients sense of wellbeing, his general state and wish to recover but also his comorbidity and perhaps the tumor progression. Any treatment has to be preceded by a careful differential diagnosis including besides the acute and chronic intoxication any organic, metabolic and functional disorder. The knowledge of the pathophysiology of nausea and vomiting, the psychosomatic and psychologic interrelations as well as the drug's pharmacologic characteristics and adverse effects allow for an optimal choice, dosage and timing of the individual antiemetic therapy.