• The goal of this clinical research study is to learn whether being hydrated (given liquids) through a catheter in a vein or in the tissue under the skin can improve symptoms of dehydration. [ Time Frame: 2 Years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with advanced cancer (local recurrence or metastatic disease) admitted to hospice care
2. Patients with an oral fluid intake less than 1000 mL/day, as determined by clinical assessment
3. Patients exhibit evidence of mild or moderate dehydration as defined by decreased skin turgor in subclavicular region (more than 2 seconds), plus a score of >/= 2/5 in the clinical dehydration assessment
4. In addition to fatigue, (expected to be present in all patients based on our pilot study), patients must score >/= 1 on a 0 to 10 scale (0=no symptom, 10= the worst possible symptom) of two of the three other target symptoms (hallucinations, sedation, and myoclonus) scored
5. Patients are 18 years of age or older
6. Patients have life expectancy of >/= 1 week as determined by their treating physicians
7. Patients who score < 13 (normal range) in the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) and are able to give written informed consent
8. Patients must be able to tolerate the parenteral treatment application device (butterfly cannula or intravenous access)
9. Patients must have a primary caregiver
10. Patients must reside within 60 miles of M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
11. Inclusion criteria of family caregivers: The family caregiver is a person who is patient's spouse, parent, sibling. child or significant other
12. The family caregiver must reside with the patient and is responsible for the care of the patient
13. The family caregiver must be 18 years of age or older
14. The family caregiver must be willing to be interviewed by the research nurse and sign written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient's refuse to participate in the study or are not competent to give informed consent
2. Patients are suffering from severe dehydration defined as decreased blood pressure or low perfusion of limbs, decreased level of consciousness, or no urine output for 12 hours
3. Patients with history or clinical evidence of renal failure. Creatinine >1.5 x ULN. (M.D. Anderson Cr ULN=1.5 mg/dl). Therefore, a patient with Creatinine of > 2.25 mg/dl will be excluded.
4. Patients with history or clinical evidence of congestive heart failure
5. Patients who are not able to complete the baseline assessment forms
6. Patients have history of bleeding disorders demonstrated by clinical evidence of active bleeding, hematuria, hematoma, ecchymoses, and petechiae
7. Patients have primary CNS malignancies, brain metastasis, or leptomeningeal disease
8. The family caregiver refuses to participate in the study
9. The family caregiver has difficulty understanding the intent of the study