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Calcium level dropping - is it a sign treatment is working?
My mom had an elevated calcium level two weeks ago. It has significantly dropped into a very normal reading. Is this a sign the myeloma is being treated?
Re: Calcium level dropping - is it a sign treatment is worki
Anytime calcium is in the normal range it is a good sign.
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Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
Re: Calcium level dropping - is it a sign treatment is worki
While it is a good sign if the calcium has returned to the normal range, you should really ask your oncologist the significance of this in regard to what treatment you are referring to and if that treatment is working or not.
I am not a doctor but I have learned from my experience with myeloma if you are taking any bisphosphonates such as Zometa or Aredia, these drugs can lower your calcium blood levels. Myeloma destroys bones and the calcium from the bones enters the blood stream raising calcium levels. Killing myeloma cells can slow and stop the bone destruction and the calcium entering the blood stream resulting in lowering calcium levels. The kidney removes excess calcium from the blood stream so improving kidney function can also lower blood calcium.
So lowering blood calcium could be the result of a combination of three things that I am aware of, bisphosphonate treatment, myeloma treatment, and improving kidney function. If you had been taking calcium supplements and have stopped that is another factor to consider.
I do not believe anyone on the Myeloma Beacon, possibly including the myeloma specialist advisors, can really answer this question for your case. I believe that only your own oncologist who is providing your treatment and has access to your complete lab results can make sense of it all. My recommendation is to ask your doctor this question.
Good to hear your treatment, at least in regards to calcium blood levels, seems to be going in the right direction.
I am not a doctor but I have learned from my experience with myeloma if you are taking any bisphosphonates such as Zometa or Aredia, these drugs can lower your calcium blood levels. Myeloma destroys bones and the calcium from the bones enters the blood stream raising calcium levels. Killing myeloma cells can slow and stop the bone destruction and the calcium entering the blood stream resulting in lowering calcium levels. The kidney removes excess calcium from the blood stream so improving kidney function can also lower blood calcium.
So lowering blood calcium could be the result of a combination of three things that I am aware of, bisphosphonate treatment, myeloma treatment, and improving kidney function. If you had been taking calcium supplements and have stopped that is another factor to consider.
I do not believe anyone on the Myeloma Beacon, possibly including the myeloma specialist advisors, can really answer this question for your case. I believe that only your own oncologist who is providing your treatment and has access to your complete lab results can make sense of it all. My recommendation is to ask your doctor this question.
Good to hear your treatment, at least in regards to calcium blood levels, seems to be going in the right direction.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
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