worried about new pain and lab results

Stanford
Stanford Member Posts: 6
edited August 2020 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

Hi,

I was dx with ILC stage 1a less than 2 years ago. It was inner, lower quadrant. axillary lymph nodes negative. It was 1cm. I had a lumpectomy and then when margins came back clear had oncoplastic breast reduction 2 weeks later. They removed a large cavity and all pathology on both breasts came back negative. Followed surgery with radiation and then anastrozole. Bone scan at that time was negative. My oncotype score was 23 but since I am post-menopausal, chemotherapy was not given.

The past 2 months started with intermittent abdominal pain that now is continuous and radiates up my chest and to my lower back-mostly on the left side. I had a ct of abdomen (negative) colonoscopy (negative) and labs. Went to se my MO and he is concerned about the pain and my calcium level is elevated at 10.4. He said an elevated calcium is not normal. I have a ct of chest and bone scan scheduled in 2 weeks (waiting for insurance authorization).

Just wondering if anyone has had any issues with calcium being elevated? I'm second guessing all of my decisions. Initially I wanted a double mastectomy but was talked out of it d/t risks r/t such a small tumor. Just now seeing studies about inner quadrant having a worse prognosis than outer. Sorry for rambling. Appreciate any comments.

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Comments

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited August 2020

    I've been tracking my calcium since the end of my last herceptin in 2014. It's varied up & down from 9.0 to 10.4. and my docs have not been worried. Two different hospitals gave me two different normal ranges: 8.25 to 10.5; or 8.8 to 10.2.

    Hope yours turns out to be nothing serious.

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited August 2020

    My blood chart shows 10.4 as in the upper normal level for calcium.

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  • OnTarget
    OnTarget Member Posts: 447
    edited August 2020

    My calcium is 10, and my chart shows 10.5 as the max.

    I hope you figure it out!

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  • Krose53
    Krose53 Member Posts: 148
    edited August 2020

    Do you take a calcium supplement by any chance?

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  • BevJen
    BevJen Member Posts: 2,523
    edited August 2020

    Another thought: has your doc checked your kidney function? Radiating from your back and rising calcium levels immediately made me think about kidney function, not lobular cancer. And also the issue about taking a calcium supplement? Maybe check with your primary care physician too -- sometimes I think that MOs don't always see the forest for the trees because they are so fixated on cancer versus any other issues. Good luck.

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  • Stanford
    Stanford Member Posts: 6
    edited August 2020

    thank you all for your replies. Our lab shows 10.2 as upper limit. Not sure if they use different testing methods. My urinalysis and kidney function were normal. I stopped taking calcium and vitamin d 6 weeks ago but was only taking half of what I was supposed to take. they only odd thing is I had the shingrix vaccine in January and July 7th. (The pain started in May) I did have a small rash that resembled shingles July 19. Not sure with timing if there is any correlation.
    sometimes I can put cancer out of my mind and other times I struggle with it. I’m glad to have this platform to hear from all of you

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited August 2020

    Stanford - H think the testing methods are the same. Different facilities just set different risk profiles. I agree, check with your pCP for a cross reference.

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