Laboratory assessment
Clinical assessment
Decision to treat

Laboratory assessment

A blood test is done to check the level of calcium. Other blood tests may be done to check kidney function.

Patients with high calcium levels should be examined for the following:

• Symptoms:
  • Nerves and muscles (muscle strength, muscle tone, reflexes, tiredness, indifference, depression, confusion, restlessness).
  • Heart (high blood pressure, heart changes, irregular heartbeat, digitalis poisoning).
  • Kidneys (production of too much urine, night-time urinating, sugar in the urine, excess thirst).
  • Gastrointestinal (loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, abdominal bloating).
  • Other (muscle and bone pain, itching).
• History:
  • How fast did the symptoms appear?
  • Is there x-ray evidence of primary or metastatic bone disease?
  • Has the patient been taking tamoxifen, estrogen, or androgens?
  • Is the patient taking digoxin?
  • Is the patient receiving calcium in intravenous fluids?
  • Is the patient receiving thiazide diuretics, vitamins A or D, or lithium?
  • Is there another disease present that could cause dehydration or lack of movement?
  • Are there effective treatments for the patient's cancer?

The decision to treat hypercalcemia depends on the treatment goals determined by the patient, caregivers, and the physician. The natural course of untreated hypercalcemia progresses to loss of consciousness and coma. This may be preferred by some patients at the end of life who have unrelieved suffering and/or untreatable symptoms.

Glossary Terms

Having to do with the abdomen, which is the part of the body between the chest and the hips that contains the pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and other organs.

A type of hormone that promotes the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics.

A procedure in which a sample of blood is examined to measure the amounts of certain substances made in the body. An abnormal amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that produces it.

A mineral found in teeth, bones, and other body tissues.

A condition in which stool becomes hard, dry, and difficult to pass, and bowel movements don’t happen very often. Other symptoms may include painful bowel movements, and feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and sluggish.

A condition caused by the loss of too much water from the body. Severe diarrhea or vomiting can cause dehydration.

A mental condition marked by ongoing feelings of sadness, despair, loss of energy, and difficulty dealing with normal daily life. Other symptoms of depression include feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, loss of pleasure in activities, changes in eating or sleeping habits, and thoughts of death or suicide. Depression can affect anyone, and can be successfully treated. Depression affects 15-25% of cancer patients.

A type of hormone made by the body that helps develop and maintain female sex characteristics and the growth of long bones. Estrogens can also be made in the laboratory. They may be used as a type of birth control and to treat symptoms of menopause, menstrual disorders, osteoporosis, and other conditions.

Liquid.

Refers to the stomach and intestines. Also called GI.

Into or within a vein. Intravenous usually refers to a way of giving a drug or other substance through a needle or tube inserted into a vein. Also called I.V..

One of a pair of organs in the abdomen. Kidneys remove waste from the blood (as urine), produce erythropoietin (a substance that stimulates red blood cell production), and play a role in blood pressure regulation.

Having to do with metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.

A feeling of sickness or discomfort in the stomach that may come with an urge to vomit. Nausea is a side effect of some types of cancer therapy.

A bundle of fibers that receives and sends messages between the body and the brain. The messages are sent by chemical and electrical changes in the cells that make up the nerves.

Medical doctor.

An indication that a person has a condition or disease. Some examples of symptoms are headache, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and pain.

A drug used to treat certain types of breast cancer in women and men. It is also used to prevent breast cancer in women who have had ductal carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells in the ducts of the breast) and are at a high risk of developing breast cancer. Tamoxifen is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. It blocks the effects of the hormone estrogen in the breast. Tamoxifen is a type of antiestrogen. Also called Nolvadex and tamoxifen citrate.

Fluid containing water and waste products. Urine is made by the kidneys, stored in the bladder, and leaves the body through the urethra.

One of several vitamins that the body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy. Vitamin A is needed for vision, bone growth, reproduction, growth of epithelium (cells that line the internal and external surfaces of the body), and fighting infections. It is fat-soluble (can be stored in the body’s fatty tissue). Foods with vitamin A include fish oils and liver, egg yolks, and whole milk dairy products from animals. It also can be made in the body from a substance found in fruits and vegetables such as cantaloupes, carrots, spinach, and sweet potatoes. Vitamin A is being studied in the prevention and treatment of some types of cancer. Also called retinol.

A nutrient that helps the body use calcium and phosphorus and make strong bones and teeth. It is found in fatty fish, eggs, and dairy products. The skin can also make vitamin D when exposed to sunshine. Not getting enough vitamin D can cause a bone disease called rickets. Vitamin D is being studied in the prevention and treatment of some types of cancer. Also called cholecalciferol.

A type of high-energy radiation. In low doses, x-rays are used to diagnose diseases by making pictures of the inside of the body. In high doses, x-rays are used to treat cancer.