hyperPARAthyroidism

vlnrph

There are 4 tiny glands in your neck which regulate calcium levels and are not associated with excess thyroxine production (as in Grave's disease - scroll down for an older thread on that topic) or the much more common hypothyroid condition for which people take medication and have their TSH checked periodically for dosage adjustment.

If your routine lab report shows consistently high serum Ca++, it may be due to an adenoma/benign tumor putting out too much hormone. An endocrinologist or internal medicine doctor should be able to make the diagnosis by ordering special blood tests. The cure is surgical and can relieve symptoms involving moans, groans, stones, and bones.

In other words, untreated elevated PT activity can cause headaches, depression, osteoporosis, precipitate renal calculi=kidney 'pebbles' and a number of other effects.

There is also a connection to breast cancer as described in a recent Swedish study, hoping my link works:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3072153/

Skittlegirl

Yeah, I am going through this. The PET scan picked up a nodule on my thyroid. The ultrasound showed 4 nodules, 2 on each side. The blood work just came back for parahyperthyroidism. Biopsy on some of the nodules is on Thursday. So now I get to do a nuclear medicine study, ultrasound on the kidneys, and bone density test. Plus surgery when I have my mastectomy.

dtad

Skittle girl My daughter recently had her parathyroid tumors removed and she feels like a new person. She does not have bc, thank God but was having kidney issues due to the high calcium levels. It was a relatively easy surgery with great results!

sandilee

I had this surgery before my Stage IV was discovered. Several of us who have BC and who had hyperparathyroidism before or during diagnosis believe that it can be related. My bone mets were found about a year after my surgery.

Skittlegirl

Got home from the biopsy a little bit ago. Not a fun experience. The lidocaine sucked. A lot. And the weird earache that went along with sample collection was odd. At least it's over and done with.