Hypercalcemia (High Blood Calcium Level)

What is hypercalcemia?

Hypercalcemia means there is a high level of calcium in your blood. Calcium is a mineral that is stored in your bones. Calcium helps:

• Keep your bones healthy.
• Your muscles and heart work.
• Your body make blood clots (that help stop bleeding).

Hypercalcemia happens in about 10 to 20 out of 100 people with cancer, often in advanced or late-stage cancers. Hypercalcemia is most common in breast and lung cancer, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and other blood cancers.

Hypercalcemia is an oncologic emergency, which is a serious health problem caused by the cancer itself or its treatment. Oncologic emergencies need to be treated right away.

What causes hypercalcemia?

Hypercalcemia may be caused by:

• Bone breakdown. This causes high levels of calcium to release into your bloodstream, especially cancers in the bone (myeloma) or that have spread to the bone (bone metastasis).
• Some cancers that affect organs and protein levels, raising the levels of calcium in your blood.
• Some medications, such as alkaline antacids, diuretics, estrogens, and progesterone can affect calcium levels.
• Dehydration (not enough fluid in your body).
• Living a less active lifestyle.

What are the symptoms of hypercalcemia?

Hypercalcemia does not always cause obvious symptoms. In some cases, it is found through blood test results. If you have symptoms, they may be:

• Not feeling hungry.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Constipation.
• Abdominal (belly) pain.
• Feeling more thirsty.
• Urinating more often.
• Fatigue, weakness, and muscle pain.
• Feeling confused or having a hard time processing thoughts.
• Headaches.
• Depressed mood.

How is it treated?

There are three levels of hypercalcemia: mild, moderate, and severe. The level is based on how much calcium is in your blood. This level sets the treatment plan. Because hypercalcemia is often caused by cancer, treating the underlying cancer is important.

Treatments may be:

• IV (intravenous, into a vein) fluids.
• Medications to lower the level of calcium in the blood and prevent more bone breakdown (including calcitonin, denosumab, bisphosphonates, and steroids).
• Hypercalcemia can cause kidney damage. Dialysis may be needed in severe cases. Dialysis filters your blood through a machine when your kidneys aren’t working as they should.

Untreated hypercalcemia can lead to serious health problems, such as loss of consciousness, heart arrhythmia, and heart attack.

When should I call my care team?

Call your care team right away if you are having any of the symptoms of hypercalcemia listed above.