[DStone]

Hypercalcemia - what's its significance?

by DStone on Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:44 am

Hello All,

I am new to this forum and will appreciate any insight offered.

My husband has been coping with multiple myeloma for 15 years but has been experiencing a steady downhill recently. I am particularly worried about his hypercalcemia.

He has been given three Zometa infusions over the course of the last three weeks. His blood calcium continues to hover around 12.5. His albumin is low, so it it likely a bit higher than that. He has been nauseous, decreased appetite, but now he is in more of a stupor, although not sure if this is because of the lorazepam (Ativan) that was prescribed for the nausea. (All other anti-nausea medications did nothing.)

I'm afraid of mistaking hypercalcemia for something more serious (for example, that he may be dying).

The oncologist says continue with Revlimid, Velcade, and dexamethasone, but doesn't offer much else. We saw her three days ago, but he has steadily declined since then.

Any recommendations?

Thank you.

Foundation

[Mojbahar]

Re: Hypercalcemia - what's its significance?

by Mojbahar on Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:07 pm

Hi

Sorry to hear about your husband. Have you guys checked his PTH (parathyroid hormone)? Often when calcium is high, it can be hyperparathyroidism as well as multiple myeloma.