Hypercalcemia (PDQ®): Supportive care - Patient Information [NCI]

Add save! | | |
 

There is little relationship between symptoms of hypercalcemia and the actual level of calcium in the blood. 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.

Symptoms may be classified by the affected body part:

Nervous system

Calcium plays a major role in the normal functioning of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Symptoms of hypercalcemia may include weakness, loss of reflexes in the muscles, and decreased stamina. Patients with central nervous system symptoms may have changes in personality, difficulty thinking or speaking clearly, disorientation, or hallucinations. Eventually, coma may result. Headaches can also occur, which can be made worse by vomiting and dehydration.

Heart

Hypercalcemia affects normal heart rhythms and increases sensitivity to some heart medications (such as digoxin). As calcium levels increase, irregular heartbeats may develop, and may lead to a heart attack.

Gastrointestinal

Increased stomach acid often is produced with hypercalcemia and may intensify loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Constipation may result from the dehydration associated with hypercalcemia.

Kidney

Hypercalcemia causes the kidneys to not function correctly, leading to the production of large volumes of urine. The large amount of urine combined with less liquid intake leads to symptoms of dehydration, including thirst, dry mouth, little or no sweating, and concentrated urine. Patients with myeloma often have kidney problems due to hypercalcemia. Kidney stones may result from long-term hypercalcemia.

Bone

Hypercalcemia of cancer can result from bone metastases or bone loss, and may contribute to broken bones, bone disfigurement, and pain.

PDQ is a comprehensive cancer database available on NCI's Web site.

PDQ is the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) comprehensive cancer information database. Most of the information contained in PDQ is available online at NCI's Web site. PDQ is provided as a service of the NCI. The NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health, the federal government's focal point for biomedical research.

PDQ contains cancer information summaries.

The PDQ database contains summaries of the latest published information on cancer prevention, detection, genetics, treatment, supportive care, and complementary and alternative medicine. Most summaries are available in two versions. The health professional versions provide detailed information written in technical language. The patient versions are written in easy-to-understand, nontechnical language. Both versions provide current and accurate cancer information.

The PDQ cancer information summaries are developed by cancer experts and reviewed regularly.

Editorial Boards made up of experts in oncology and related specialties are responsible for writing and maintaining the cancer information summaries. The summaries are reviewed regularly and changes are made as new information becomes available. The date on each summary ("Date Last Modified") indicates the time of the most recent change.

PDQ also contains information on clinical trials.

A clinical trial is a study to answer a scientific question, such as whether one method of treating symptoms is better than another. Trials are based on past studies and what has been learned in the laboratory. Each trial answers certain scientific questions in order to find new and better ways to help cancer patients. Some patients have symptoms caused by cancer treatment or by the cancer itself. During supportive care clinical trials, information is collected about how well new ways to treat symptoms of cancer work. The trials also study side effects of treatment and problems that come up during or after treatment. If a clinical trial shows that a new treatment is better than one currently being used, the new treatment may become "standard." Patients who have symptoms related to cancer treatment may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial.

Listings of clinical trials are included in PDQ and are available online at NCI's Web site. Descriptions of the trials are available in health professional and patient versions. Many cancer doctors who take part in clinical trials are also listed in PDQ. For more information, call the Cancer Information Service 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

Last Revised: 2010-11-04

If you want to know more about cancer and how it is treated, or if you wish to know about clinical trials for your type of cancer, you can call the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-422-6237, toll free. A trained information specialist can talk with you and answer your questions.

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

Advertisement

See All Boards

find discussions about...

See All Tools

See All News