High Calcuim Levels

Susan956
Susan956 Member Posts: 510
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
OK... Got a New Question

Have any of you been told that you have too high of a Calcium Level... I have been on Armidex.. but then stopped it for 3 weeks and went to the Onc to switch meds...(lot a feet and leg swelling).. They always run blood test on me when I go... and they called back saying that I had high Calcium levels and to stop taking Calcium Supplements... (I am on fosamax due to bone loss from the Arimidex).. So help me out.. I am a little bothered since I looked on the web and high calcium levels can be caused by breast cancer... but most commonly from some other glands in our bodies not working... especially after a woman is 50... I just turned 51.... so hopefully I am just on schedule and I will avoid taking one more pill a day... Any ideas ladies....

Take Care... and God Bless All...

Susan

Comments

  • inkblot
    inkblot Member Posts: 698 Member
    #2
    Hi Susan,

    My Chemistry Profile (also a part of my regular onc check ups) showed that my Calcium had spiked a bit, a few years ago. Unlike yourself I never took aromatase inhibitors and had a normal DexaScan, so no Fosamax either. I did, however, take a Calcium supplement and always have. I was asked to stop the Calcium supplement while tests continued.

    My onc. asked me to come back in 2 weeks to repeat the Calc. test. Did so. Still high. Not overly high but with Calc. it doesn't need to spike much to warrant further investigation.

    More tests were ordered (dont't recall the name of it but was to check the Parathyroids) and the conclusion was that my Parathyroid glands were acting up a bit. Was told that if the problem continued and the Calc. continued to rise, that surgery to remove these glands is curative. Was thrilled that we never got down to the wire with that being a necessary considertion. My onc. told me that the Parathyroids are not easily located/removed, due to their structure/location, even in the hands of skilled/practiced surgeons.

    My outcome: After 6 months of monitoring, my Calc. levels increased no further and at my next check up, had returned to normal, where they've remained since. Sometimes, we get these strange little hiccups and they frequently right themselves with no further problems. Cannot help but wonder: If EVERYONE had the number of lab screening tests we have, as often as we have them, then maybe those with NO cancer history would also have occasional glitches? Makes sense to me anyhow and helps me to worry less when a glitch hits the screen.

    Hope that may be helpful.

    Love, light & laughter,
    Ink
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #3
    inkblot said:

    Hi Susan,

    My Chemistry Profile (also a part of my regular onc check ups) showed that my Calcium had spiked a bit, a few years ago. Unlike yourself I never took aromatase inhibitors and had a normal DexaScan, so no Fosamax either. I did, however, take a Calcium supplement and always have. I was asked to stop the Calcium supplement while tests continued.

    My onc. asked me to come back in 2 weeks to repeat the Calc. test. Did so. Still high. Not overly high but with Calc. it doesn't need to spike much to warrant further investigation.

    More tests were ordered (dont't recall the name of it but was to check the Parathyroids) and the conclusion was that my Parathyroid glands were acting up a bit. Was told that if the problem continued and the Calc. continued to rise, that surgery to remove these glands is curative. Was thrilled that we never got down to the wire with that being a necessary considertion. My onc. told me that the Parathyroids are not easily located/removed, due to their structure/location, even in the hands of skilled/practiced surgeons.

    My outcome: After 6 months of monitoring, my Calc. levels increased no further and at my next check up, had returned to normal, where they've remained since. Sometimes, we get these strange little hiccups and they frequently right themselves with no further problems. Cannot help but wonder: If EVERYONE had the number of lab screening tests we have, as often as we have them, then maybe those with NO cancer history would also have occasional glitches? Makes sense to me anyhow and helps me to worry less when a glitch hits the screen.

    Hope that may be helpful.

    Love, light & laughter,
    Ink

    Thanks Ink....

    Helps to make things not seem so sinister.... I knew my Doc wasn't very worried... but hey I guess I get a little more worried than the average person.

    Susan

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