I'm hypercalcemic

[OzarkDem]

Went to the doc (my new oncologist) today for my annual check up and my blood test showed very slightly elevated level of hypercalcemia - higher than normal levels of calcium in the blood. In cancer survivors this can be an early signal of bone or other mets.

I have to go back to the lab for a para-thyroid test, to see if my hormones have fluctuated, also would be a result of cancer related hypercalcemia.

That said, I feel fine, but am out of shape. I'm almost 8 yrs out of treatment so my risk of recurrence is low. I just had the flu and recovered really fast (an important sign for me because in the year before I was dx the first time w/ breast cancer, my immune system sucked bad.

Its very nerve racking, as you all know. A good friend of mine who is a 5 yr survivor was just dx with a brain tumor, and I've had several friends pass from bc in the last year, so its always on my mind.

I'm sure it will be ok, but these little blips sure have a way of brining reality back, don't they?

[pecwae]

1. It's that niggling in the back of your mind.

Try as you might, it's very hard to ignore once you've had cancer.

Are you on an AI? What other reasons could there be for the hypercalcemia?

When I was first dxd with bc higher than usual protein was detected in my spinal fluid. Tests for mets were all negative. Now I wonder if the thymoma was the cause of the protein elevation.

Let us know how the next tests come out. You'll be in our thoughts. You're a very cherished member of this group.

[OzarkDem]

2. All ok

Parathyroid and metabolic workup were all ok. I'm lucky to have a good health care provider who takes care of this all so quickly (Cleveland Clinic).

I was reading about the protein levels online last night and they can be an early sign of certain kinds of tumors - those related to hormone secretion.

Best link I found online for info about these tests was Scott Hamilton's Chemocare.com. Really detailed, but easy to understand at the same time. I'd forgotten what a good resource it can be. No surprise, its the Cleveland Clinic oncologists who put it together (Scott Hamilton was treated there for his testicular cancer and now his benign brain tumor).

http://www.chemocare.com/

Link to Blood test abnormalities

http://www.chemocare.com/managing/blood_test_abnormalities.asp

[pecwae]

3. Great news!

Thanks for the links. I'm going to UNC Monday for a 2nd opinion on the thymoma. Your OP jogged my memory about the spinal fluid protein level and I will bring that up to the CT oncologist. Sounds like it might have been related to ER+ BC my first time.

I'm glad you're ok and that you have a health care team you can rely upon.

[OzarkDem]

4. Thanks

Such is the roller-coaster of cancer survivorship. Though I fell lucky, I also feel guilty for all the people I know who have had recurrences.