High Calcium Levels( need help)

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paml
paml Member Posts: 81
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Ladies,

I could really use your help. Went to my doctor the other day to discuss my 6 month blood test. He pointed out that my blood calcium level was 10.7. He didnt seemed concerned because everything else looked fine but I am really freakin out. Has anyone else on the stage 3 boards had this problem? I will take any information you have good or bad.

Thanks so much. 

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  • reesie
    reesie Member Posts: 2,078
    edited July 2012

    I'm not Stage III so I hope you don't mind if I butt in. I'm always wathing my levels for changes.



    I looked it up and it looks like the "normal" range goes up to 10.4 so 10.7 is barely high. I would wait until my next test before I panicked if I were you (I know, easier said than done). Many things affect all of our different blood levels. You need to see if it was just a fluke or if there is a trend. Also, what is your normal level - the range is pretty wide (I think 8.2 to 10.4). So if you are normally at the low end of the normal range there might be more concern than if you 're normally at the high end of the normal range.



    Also do you take a calcium supplement? That could definitely have an effect.

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited July 2012

    I am interested in this topic so I will bookmark it to see what kind of response you get. Also, not Stage III but close enough ;) (IIb)

    I am in the midst of my neoadjuvant chemo and when I went for my regular MO visit this past week, my nurse mentioned "I am going to make a note of your caclum level just to keep an eye on it." It was 10.7.  I freaked the freak out!  She tried to reassure me and tell me that diet and other factors can influence the level.  I don't take any supplements other than a multivitamin.

    Anyway, I called back later that day to see what my level HAD been in the past and if it was trending upward.  They told me that they re-ran the test and it was 9.2 so it was normal.  But somehow, I am still not totally reassured...

    In researching frantically I found that something called "parathyroidism" can be a cause of high calcium levels as well - there are a lot of threads on this topic here on this site.  

    So what are they going to do for follow up?  Anything?

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  • Lee7
    Lee7 Member Posts: 657
    edited July 2012

    I'm a stage 2, but I'm interested in this topic because my calcium has been creeping upward. I'm wondering if it is due to the Arimidex I am taking or .....I also have a tiny 'blip' on my thyroid that an MRI found. It has been checked and is supposed to be benign.  What is parathyroidism?   

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  • paml
    paml Member Posts: 81
    edited July 2012

    Thanks so much for your response ladies

    It will be interesting to see if anyone else has any ideas on the subject. 

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited July 2012

    I don't know enough about it to speak to the subject but I may have misspoken - I think it is "hyperparathyroidism" - I just read some threads on here by using the search box and searching "high calcium".  I know just enough to be dangerous to myself and others ;)

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  • hopeforlife
    hopeforlife Member Posts: 23
    edited July 2012

    hey Paml....what was your alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level?

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  • MondaysChild
    MondaysChild Member Posts: 591
    edited July 2012

    The normal range on my results says 8.4 to 10.6.  I have been as high as 11.2 one time and as low as 9.2.  Mostly I stay in the 9 something range. Last month I was 9.9. 

    When I was 11.2 they also watched.  3 weeks later, I was 9.8. As someone mentioned, calcium intake can have some effect. 

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  • paml
    paml Member Posts: 81
    edited July 2012

    thanks hopeforlife

    Alkaline phosphatase levels were in normal range. I think 68 ( range 25-150) 

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  • hopeforlife
    hopeforlife Member Posts: 23
    edited July 2012

    Sorry for a dealyed response...just got back from the hospital after doing two liver biopsies...

    Perfect Paml....solid tumors such as those of breast and the lung secrete what is called PTHrP (Parathyroid hormone related peptide) that ramps up your alkaline phosphatase which inturn activates ostoblasts, which then activate osteoclasts and what results in the end is hypercalcemia (hence you see metastatic calcifications in organs as oppose to dystrophic calcifications). If your ALP is normal...this means there is no PTHrP stimulating ALP and your hypercalcemia is just an incidental finding.

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  • paml
    paml Member Posts: 81
    edited July 2012

    thanks again hopeforlife

    You've made me feel alot better. Wishing you all the best! 

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited July 2012

    Sorry to hijack your thread pam but I have a question.

    So if your calcium is high but your ALP is not high, then it is probably not mets or probably not parathyroid related?  Just wondering what to be prepared to ask at next MO visit in a couple weeks - I have labs weekly to check counts after each TX but I would NOT let myself ask what the calcium was this time because I didn't want my imagination to run wild.

    As I said above, when they reran mine last time, the calcium was normal, but I still think it had been elevated from what it had been in the past.  

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  • paml
    paml Member Posts: 81
    edited July 2012

    Hi Kit

    Sorry for the delayed reply. Haven't been on the boards in a couple of days. I have once again ask Dr. Google and it seems some meds such as the high blood pressure meds I am taking can sometimes amp up calcium levels.

    I have an appointment with the onc on the 18th so I can let you know more then.   

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  • ICanDoThis
    ICanDoThis Member Posts: 1,473
    edited July 2012
    Here's a link

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/120/topic/770080
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  • paml
    paml Member Posts: 81
    edited July 2012

    Hi Ladies,

    Back again with the calcium issue.

    Went to see my oncologist today and discussed the calcium problem. It has actually risen from 10.7 to 11.1. Everything else is in the normal range and the blood test which detects metastic breast cancer was negative.

    The PTH levels were at the high end of normal ( 64) I continue to be totally freaked out because he is sending me to my endocrinologist. If it doesn't turn out to be parathryroid disease then I am off for a CAT scan. Has anyone else had this calcium issue? I have been diagnosed with thryoid nodules and take thryoid medication but nothing about parathryoid problems. Again, I would appreciate any info my bc sisters my have.

    thanks! 

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  • kltb04
    kltb04 Member Posts: 1,051
    edited July 2012

    paml - I don't have any further advice but am following with interest - let us know how it works out.  I would bet it will turn out to the be the parathyroid issues that so many have mentioned.

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