please help very scared blood calcium level of 10.6

erica10
erica10 Member Posts: 13
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

I am new to these boards.  My Mom who is 61 double mastectomy (1 on LB in 1979 the right breast in 2007). She helps me care for my ill daughter who is very sick and on a mask for breathing support. 

Recently my Mom's blood report from her regular said she has 10.6 in blood calcium.  I am so scared.  She doesn't go for follow ups at her oncologist as her lymph nodes (in 2007) were clean and was petrified of chemo.  Her onc dx score said he was right at the number to do chemo.

 Has anyone else here had high end of normal of calcium.

I appreciate any replies as I am very nervous.

Thank you so much

Erica

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  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited January 2010

    Erica..Any specific reasons why you are so scared?

    I will tell you mine because I keep my blood work results.

    April 3, 2009 it was 10.4

    Sept 19, 2008 was  10.6

    March 5, 2008 was 10.2

     I see that the normal range was higher 2 years ago up to 10.7 was considered in the normal range.

    Now normal range is up to 10.3.

    I hope this helps you somehow. You let me know if having slightly elevated calcium is such a concern. Thanks

    Sheila

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  • ICanDoThis
    ICanDoThis Member Posts: 1,473
    edited January 2010

    Erica - high-normal calcium levels are not that unusual in post-menopausal women, and are likely to be a sign of low Vitamin D.

    In my case, my calcium levels were are 10.5-10.8, and my Vitamin D was 7; my parathyroid was also high.

    Regular doses of D has caused everything to adjust to normal levels.

    Don't be too scared, although, if your mom is having bone pain or depression, Vitamin D could well make her feel better.

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  • sam52
    sam52 Member Posts: 950
    edited January 2010

    Slightly elevated serum calcium can also be a sign of (benign) parathyroid disease.She should ask to have her PTH level checked.

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  • erica10
    erica10 Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2010

    Sheila,

    Thank you so much for your response. The reason I am so worried is that she has not followed up with an oncologist since she did not do chemo. What kind of follow-up scans/testing have you had done?  I really appreciate you sharing you calcium levels and you have helped to put both mine and her mind at ease.

    Erica 

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  • GracieM2007
    GracieM2007 Member Posts: 1,564
    edited January 2010

    My calcium levels have been high since chemo.  And they still are.  If I take too much calcium, they go up, so it's a fine line on how much to take.  I agree with the poster who said to have her parathyroid checked.

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  • erica10
    erica10 Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2010

    Sue,

    Thank you for sharing about the vitamin D. My Mom does have a low D level - 25 and is now on 50,000 mg for 6 months.  I am praying that her parathyroid and the D is the problem and you have helped put our minds at ease.  She will be asking for her PTH level to be tested at her dr. visit this week.  Did you have surgery for your parathyroid issue?

    Also, I didnt know that there was a corrolation between Low Vit D and hypercalcemia.

    What follow-ups/scans do you have done. I want to encourage my Mom to do them.

    Thanks again

    Erica

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  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited January 2010

    Hi Erica...I have an oncologist and I had a lumpectomy, I did chemo and radiation.

    I believe reading other posts that women who had just radiation still need to be followed up by an oncologist at least every 6 months. Is her Primary DR taking care of her?

    I just had a Vitamin D level test waiting for the results.

    I don't do any scans except Mammo once a year. And the oncologist does The TM (Tumor Marker) test every 4 months when I go for my follow ups, again not every Dr does the TM test.

    Good Luck to your mom.

    Sheila

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited January 2010

    http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/aha_scalcium_crs.htm

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  • erica10
    erica10 Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2010

    Thanks for your responses.  They are so helpful.  I am now concerned because today my Mom's GP said she wont order a PTH blood test, only a re-check for calcium level.  Do you think she should push getting a PTH blood test or just do the repeat calcium and go from there.

    Thank you.

    Erica

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  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited January 2010

    What PTH stands for?

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  • erica10
    erica10 Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2010

    Shiela,

    PTH stands for parathyroid hormone which corrolates with high level of blood calcium. If you don't mind me asking, did you get treatment after surgery as my Mom did not. My Mom is so afraid of follow-ups.   She did not show anything in her nodes but because of our lives being stressful, with my daughter being so sick, I feel like how much more can we take?

    I want her to get the best care possible but she doesn't want to live in fear and going to an oncologist for her = fear/panic. She has lost weight right before her cancer and has continued to maintain the weight loss.  I just hate her dealing with this after having it 30 years ago and always having it in the back of her head.

    Thanks for any advice.

    Erica

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  • erica10
    erica10 Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2010

    Shiela,

    I am sorry. I just re-read your posts and you said you get mamos and tumor marker as followups. Did you get any scans right after your surgery? 

    Thanks again,

    Erica

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  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited January 2010

    Erica, After the surgery I was ask to find an oncologist and I saw one, I got a second opinion not because the first one wasn't good its because the second one was so local for me walking distance. He ordered a bone, pelvic, abdomen scan, there was something else I don't recall now.

    Because I was getting chemo, got a Muga scan, had a port installed and started treatment, during treatment I was seeing the oncologist every week. Post treatment I had a mammogram 6 months later on the lumpectomy breast and 6 months later regular mammogram and once a year after that. I did not have any any lymph node involvment.

    What is the DX is she ER PR+, the grade. You see there isnt much info about what kind of cancer she was DX with.

    Can I ask you something? What your mother did after the mastectomy?

    Doesnt she have an oncologist or any other DR.?

    I believe getting scans after surgery its routine to rule out metastasis.

    Sheila

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  • erica10
    erica10 Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2010

    Hi Shiela,

    My Mom's tumor was 1 cm ER+, PR- HER2 equiv.  Her ONCO Dx  was 28. She had a pet scan after her surgery which didnt show anything.  She did leave on a religious medal (i gave her) BY ACCIDENT around her neck which didn't show up on the pet scan so I feel like, could that skew the results.  I am just concerned. She lost weight leading up to her diagnosis in 2007 and has not gained any even with eating extra around the holidays.

    She is pertrified of oncology but has a GP who is the one that found the LOW D level and the 10.6 blood calcium.  She is on 50,000 units of Vit D / week for 6 months. Also the Dr. is rechecking calcium. I don't want to stress her but if she should have other testing I want her to.

    Thanks for your help and input.

    Erica

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