High Blood Calcium Levels
Comments
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Hello everyone,
It is sad that there is no activity on this thread. What has happened to all of you that had problems with hyperparathyroidism? We need to get this thread going again.
Best wishes.
Sylvia.
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Hello everyone,
I was wondering if there have been any new cases of hyperparathyroidism recently, especially connected to breast cancer.
Sylvia.
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Hello everyone,
Please keep this thread going. It is important to keep a check on calcium levels with breast cancer.
Thinking of you all,
Sylvia.
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I had a parathyroidectomy in 2004. Since then, my calcium levels have been normal. I take a calcium with D twice daily.
Before I was diagnosed, I had a lot of bone and muscle pain and my BP was high. The surgeon said those pains would go away once the calcium would quit leaving my bones and she was right. I was hoping my BP would get to normal, but that didn't happen. Since high BP has many causes, apparently bone loss wasn't one of them. Oh well---
By they way, I am positive my osteoporosis was caused by the lack of calcium. But for years I didn't get any bloodwork done so of course had no idea the calcium was the culprit. The damage has been done to my bones and can't be reversed, so no crying over spilled milk (pun intended!)
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Hello dogsandjogs,
Thank you for your post, which I found very interesting. I had a parathyroidectomy in 2009. I also take calcium/magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin K on a daily basis.
I had no symptoms of any kind and was diagnosed at the same time as TNBC, when my medical team were checking out high calcium levels. I do know the symptoms are usually described as, bones, moans and groans! She did not mention anything about high blood pressure.
It is true that hyperparathyroidism causes osteoporosis, because calcium leaches out of the bones into the blood stream. I was told I had probably had the parathyroid problem for a long time and that it had preceded my breast cancer. Like you, I had no need for blood tests in the past so I had no idea about a parathyroid problem. I have been told it is rare but I think it may be under-diagnosed and feel that testing for the level of parathyroid hormone should be part of all routine blood tests as testing for thyroid problems is. I think it is all the more important because there is a possible connection between hyperparathyroidism and the development of breast cancer or something like childhood x-rays causing both.
Have you ever been offered bisphosphonates for your osteoporosis? They are lethal and I do not take them. I have recently been reading about strontium citrate for osteoporosis and am thinking of taking that. You might like to read the book Your Bones.
Wishing you well.
Sylvia xxxx
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I had my first breast cancer in 1982, and my second primary in 2010. Hadn't heard about the connection to parathyroid tumors until someone on another thread mentioned it.
I went for a complete physical in 2004 because of dizziness. At that time the high calcium was discovered along with a borderline left bundle block in my heart and osteoporosis. I took Fosamax later on for about 3 years; stopping when I began to have jaw pain. I was never comfortable taking it.
I know only one other person who has had a parathyroid tumor--so you are right, they are not that common. Luckily almost always the tumors are benign.
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Thanks for mentioning the strontium. I'll have to check into that! I hate taking another drug though; I already take a blood thinner and two other meds for my atrial fibrillation.
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Hello dogsandjogs
Thank you for your posts. I am truly astonished that you had a second primary after so long. It just makes me realise that with this awful disease there is never any complete peace of mind. I am nearly eight years out from IDC, ER-, PR- and HER2-, which is now known as TNBC.
I can understand how you had reservations about taking Fosamax. It looks as though it is lethal and does more harm than good. It looks as though you stopped taking it just in time.
I can understand your reservation about taking any more medication. The strontium that is prescribed by doctors, known as strontium ranelate is a patented artificial drug and having read up about it I would not touch it. My understanding is that strontium citrate is natural and you take it as a supplement, but in view of all that has happened to you I would get good advice before taking anything else.
Are you taking warfarin as a blood thinner? A friend of mine is taking it and is having all kinds of problems trying to keep it stable.
Let us hope we have no further problems with our parathyroid.
I think the breast cancer has caused bigger problems with osteoporosis than the parathyroid problem.
Wishing you well.
Sylvia xxxx
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Hello everyone,
We need to keep this thread going. Itis important to keep an eye an eye on high calcium levels.
Best Wishes, Sylvia,
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My last blood test showed calcium was in the normal range. You asked about Warfarin - even though I hate to take it and it is a nuisance to get my blood checked every 3 weeks, I haven't had any side effects from it. I get tired more easily and cold, but that is to be expected I guess with the thinner blood.
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Hello dogsandjogs
It was nice to hear from you. I hope all will go well with you.
Keep passing the message on about parathyroidism, which I think is being missed by many doctors as they do not know much about it. I think there are more people with it than the doctors realise.
Best wishes.
Sylvia
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I had never heard of it and the doc said it wasn't that common. Since then, I've met two people who had the surgery.
Years ago I was told my calcium was "high normal" and was advised to "watch it". But the doc didn't tell me why, and I didn't ask. I wish I had; maybe I would never have gotten my severe osteoporosis.
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Hello dogsandjogs
Thank you for your post. I am also annoyed that my hyperparathyroidism went undiagnosed for years, as I am convinced it contributed to the development of my breast cancer. Like you, I now have osteoporosis but even if we had been diagnosed and treated much earlier for our hyperparathyroidism we would still have ended up with osteoporosis from our breast cancer treatment. I think the breast cancer was probably a greater cause of osteoporosis than the hyperparathyroidism because I had no indication of osteoporosis until after the cancer treatment. it is frustrating but I shall probably never know the truth about any of it.
Best wishes.
Sylvia xxxx
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In my case the osteoporosis had nothing to do with cancer treatment. In 1982, when I had my first cancer I had a mastectomy and reconstruction. There was no further treatment in those days.
So I am positive it was caused by the high calcium.
This time around I tried the Aromasin, but could not tolerate it. Also, I was very worried about more bone loss. Can't afford any more fractures---
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Hello eveyone,
Please keep this thread going.
We need to keep checks on our blood serum calcium level as well as our parathyroid hormone levels(PTH). We need to have DEXA scans to make sure we do not have osteopenia or osteporosis.
Best wishes,
Sylvia.
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Hi everyone, I'm glad I found this thread. My high blood calcium levels were first discovered in 2009. I've had about 5 or 6 lab work ups since then and I've always ranged from 10.3 to 10.8. I did have my parathyroid checked in 2009 and it was normal. When my onc saw my last level, not knowing I always tested high, she called and wanted me to go for a bone scan. Since I related my history she now wants me to see an endocrinologist instead to find out what's going on. No pcp was ever that concerned in the past so I didn't think twice about it. Now I'm worried. She said no calcium supplements even though I already have osteopenia and started femara a month ago. I don't think I have mets, I was stage 1, very small, and just diagnosed in January. Could I have a normal parathyroid test and still have hyperparathyroidism? What are the symptoms? One thing after another!
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My doctor did not suggest a bone scan; he had me do the 24 hour urine test to see how much calcium was being dumped.Since the amount was high, I then went for a thyroid scan which showed the tumor. Next step was surgery which was no big deal; except I had to stay overnight so they could check the calcium levels every few hours. No problems since; my levels are normal. This was in 2004.
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My onc does want me to do the 24hour urine test. Once I gave her my levels for the past 4 years she decided I didn't need the bone scan. I have to find an endo. I have such health anxiety and now I'm terrified again. How can I have a normal parathyroid number and hyperparathyroidism? Which test is conclusive?
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You don't need an endo. I just had my internist take care of it. After the tumor was diagnosed I was referred to a surgeon though.
Sorry, I don't understand why the two tests should be different. I only remember getting the calcium test.
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Hello ClairesMom,
I have just read your post and was interested to know that you have high blood calcium levels but normal parathyroid hormone level. Usually it is the parathyroid hormone level that give a diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism, but perhaps there are exceptions.
If I were you, I would see an endocrinologist as this is a specialist in the endocrine system and ought to be able to get to the bottom of this. If you read my previous posts on this thread and on the thread Parathyroid disease and breast cancer, in the forum IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma), created by sam52, you will find a lot of information. Sam52 and I had both IDC and hyperparathyroidism, diagnosed at the same time and we went through surgery for hyperparathyroidism together.
If that were me I would also want a bone nucleide scan just to have peace of mind. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, nearly eight years ago, I was told I had high levels of serum blood calcium and it was at first thought that I might have cancer spread to the bones. I had the scan and this was ruled out. My oncologist and breast cancer surgeon (also an endocrinologist) tested for high parathyroid hormone and diagnosed hyperparathyroidism. Surgery to remove a benign adenoma on one of the parathyroid glands cured this. Before surgery I had a sestamibi scan which showed the adenoma on the bottom right parathyroid gland. I have osteoporosis and this was the result of the undiagnosed hyperparathyroidism. Until I was cured by surgery I was told not to take calcium supplements while I had the hyperparathyroidism. Remember that aromatase inhibitors, such as femara, cause osteopenia and osteoporosis.
I was told that I had had the adenoma before the breast cancer, but I had no symptoms at all. You might want to look at www.parathyroid.com.
I am convinced there is a connection between hyperparathyroidism and breast cancer.
Best wishes.
Sylvia.
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http://www.parathyroid.com/parathyroid-disease.htm
Just found this. It explains why the two tests can show different results.
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Just popping in to say hi and to keep thread active. I see an endo at ucla on friday. Hopefully learn more then.
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Hello JAN69
I read your post with interest and I just wanted to say that I hope all goes well when you see an endocrinologist on Friday. What a long way you are having to travel.
Best wishes.
Sylvia.
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Sylvia -- just stopped by to let you know that I had my parathyroidectomy a couple of weeks ago, and it turned out that I had 3 defective parathyroids.
Feeling SO much better now that they are out and my one little healthy one is just chugging along.0 -
Hello ICanDoThis (Sue)
Thank you for letting us know how you got on. I can hardly believe that you had three parathyroid glands not functioning properly. That is all behind you now and I was glad to know you are feeling so much better.
What are you doing now about calcium supplements? I cannot remember whether you had developed osteoporosis. After my parathyroidectomy I did have a DEXA scan to see what was going on with my bones. I still have osteoporosis three and a half years after surgery. This might be to do with chemotherapy treatment and age.
Wishing you well.
Sylvia xxxx
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Hello everyone,
We should keep this thread going.
Sylvia.
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It is so sad that this thread is not being kept up to date. With BC it is important to keep a watch on your calcium levels.
Best wishes.
Sylvia
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I agree we need to keep this going. My calcium level has been high, around 11.5, since I started chemo one year ago. My onc ordered the PTH blood test, which was 158. I see an endocrinologist today, and also have a radioactive bone scan. I've been concerned that this meant the cancer had spread. After reading this thread, however, I think it's an adenoma. While I don't look forward to my 4th surgery in a year, it doesn't sound like a big deal. If the surgery would make me feel better, the doc could do it right now! This thread has been very helpful to me.
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Hello DivePuppy,
I read your post with great interest. I do hope that all will go well when you see your oncologist and have a bone nucleide scan. I do hope the high calcium will be due to a non-malignant adenoma and nothing else. I had the same scan and saw an endocrinologist when it was thought the cancer might have spread to the bone. If it is an adenoma everything will be fine after surgery. They usually do a sestamibi scan to locate the adenoma. Surgery to remove the adenoma is not that difficult and results in a cure.
Besides this thread you might want to read the thread Parathyroid disease and breast cancer, in the forum IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma). It was created by sam52 and she and I went through the parathyroid surgery etc. together. There is research to connect breast cancer and parathyroid disease. Sam52 and I are convinced there is a connection. Research cannot seem to make up its mind which one causes which. All I know is that my breast cancer consultant/endocrinologist said that, judging by the size of my adenoma, the parathyroid problem had preceded the breast cancer.
I was interested to know that you were triple positive with your breast cancer. I was triple negative and sam52 was ER+, PR+ but HER2-. How have you been getting on in all of this?
You are welcome to pop into the thread I started Calling all triple negative breast cancer patients in the UK to say hello. Sam52 posts here.
Wishing you well and let us know how you get on.
Best wishes.
Sylvia xxxx
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eek. I had a normal blood test this summer just after I had a breast biopsy. Just last week a blood test showed high calcium (10.7). Earlier I had been tested for D, which is low. I hadn't heard a thing about any connection to bc. I'm supposed to see my primary care dr Tues to see if he will order more tests. This makes me nervous all over again - I came here looking for some encouragement, trying to understand why I'm seeing some of you here with a dx similar or "less" than mine, and you now have mets. And now calcium is connected with bc... More to worry about.0
