Cancer and your bone

• How is hypercalcemia diagnosed?

• How is hypercalcemia treated?

• Where can I learn more about hypercalcemia?

• What are the symptoms of hypercalcemia?

• What do I need to talk to my doctor about?

How is hypercalcemia diagnosed?

Early identification and attention to bone metastases can help proper treatment. Bone metastases may manifest themselves as pain, which may often be described as generalized deep pain, radiating pain, tingling, numbness, achy bones, or muscles pain—including back pain. Bone metastases can be detected and monitored in several ways:

• Skeletal radiograph
• Bone scan
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

 

How is hypercalcemia treated?

Fluids are given to treat dehydration. Medication is given to stop the breakdown of bone. The cancer causing the hypercalcemia should be treated effectively.

The severity of the hypercalcemia determines the amount of treatment necessary. Severe hypercalcemia should be treated immediately and aggressively. Less severe hypercalcemia should be treated according to the symptoms. Response to treatment is shown by the disappearance of the symptoms of hypercalcemia and a decrease in the level of calcium in the blood.

Mild hypercalcemia does not usually need to be treated aggressively. Patients with mild hypercalcemia and central nervous system symptoms are harder to treat. Younger patients are especially difficult to treat because they tolerate hypercalcemia better. Other causes of the central nervous system symptoms should be ruled out before deciding that they are caused by hypercalcemia alone.

Treatment for hypercalcemia can improve symptoms. Increased urination and thirst, central nervous system symptoms, nausea, vomiting, and constipation improve with treatment more easily than other symptoms, such as loss of appetite and tiredness. Pain may be more easily controlled once calcium levels are normal. Effective therapy that lowers calcium usually improves symptoms, enhances the quality of life, and may allow the patient to leave the hospital.

After calcium levels return to normal, urine and blood should continue to be checked often to make sure the treatment is still working.

 

Where can I learn more about hypercalcemia?

Visit www.cancer.gov

 

What are the symptoms of hypercalcemia?

Symptoms of hypercalcemia resemble symptoms of other illnesses, making an early and rapid diagnosis difficult. The severity of the symptoms may depend on other factors, such as previous cancer treatment, reactions to drugs, or other illnesses a patient may have.

Most patients do not experience all of the symptoms of hypercalcemia, and some patients may not have any symptoms at all. However, most patients with high calcium levels in the blood do have symptoms. Some patients develop signs of hypercalcemia when calcium levels are only slightly high, while patients who have had higher calcium levels for a long time may show few symptoms.

The most common symptoms of hypercalcemia are feeling tired, difficulty thinking clearly, lack of appetite, pain, frequent urination, increased thirst, constipation, nausea, and vomiting.

 

What do I need to talk to my doctor about?

• What are bone metastases?
• How do bone metastases damage the bone?
• Are bone metastases painful?
• What is hypercalcemia of malignancy?
• Are there other complications from bone metastases?

 

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