Bone Mets???

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I had a bone scan in Aug. and all was clear.  Last week my calcium level was just barely elevated so I had to redo bloodwork for calcium.  I read that elevated calcium levels can mean bone mets.  Has anyone had elevated calcium?  Am waiting for results.

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited December 2009

    Same thing happened to me and it was from taking my Calcium pill before blood draw. Skip calcium pill for one day then get redrawn, it most likely is ok if you just had a clear bone scan.

    ALso many times an ALK PHOS would be elevated if bone mets.

  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited December 2009
    Elevated blood calcium level can be caused by many, many things--takiing a calcium supplement regularly, temporary changes in hydration (usually dehydration), taking other supplements like magnesium or potassium, or even eating a meal a lot higher in salt than usual (like a restaraunt meal).  If the level was just barely elevated it very likely means absolutely nothing.  Rmember, normal levels are determined by looking at a lot of test results and figuring out statistically what 2 numbers 90% of the results fall into. 10% of all people have a normal-for-them level that is either higher or lower than the "normal range."  Also, those tests were all taken on ill people, not healthy people, and that may skew the results.  Any reading that's close to the normal is usually considered normal unless there is a trend or a symptom to trigger worry.  If you have a clean bone scan, haven't started haveing constant bone pain somewhere, are taking  a calcium supplement, and had not drank a solid 16 ounces of water before the lab draw I'll bet the repeat will be within the normal range. 
  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited December 2009

    Oh, one other factor--if you had exercised vigorously in one of the 2 days before the test your calcium can be nudged up a bit. 

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    My was barely elevated.  My onc had my parathyroid checked.  It was normal.  Then when I went back for more blood work the calcium level was also normal.  So, do not worry!

  • TriciaK
    TriciaK Member Posts: 362
    edited December 2009

    They just found a suspicious area on my bone scan and yet my calcium levels are normal!!

    Tumour markers are really not a clear indication for many people so I'd dismiss it if your bone scan was negative:)

    Tricia xx

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