Hypercalcemia Can Be Early Indicator of Certain Types of Cancer

If you have never heard of hypercalcemia, then it’s definitely time to learn about this condition. Not only can this condition be destructive on its own, but it may also lead to more serious medical conditions moving forward. Therefore, this is a condition that is being studied and for which new potential treatments are being recommended all the time. In essence, the condition known as hypercalcemia means that there is an elevated level of calcium concentration within the bloodstream. This in and of itself may not sound like a problem, but the calcium concentration is usually at a very high level that can be destructive to overall health. We are now finding that it can also contribute to development of other conditions in the future.

What happens with hypercalcemia is heavily researched and may entail a few different medical conditions. More than likely, an individual develops this elevated level of calcium in the bloodstream when the thyroid isn’t working properly. Rather than help to filter out the calcium, the thyroid allows calcium to flow freely. This can be detrimental to people because the blood count won’t be at proper levels and everything can slow down. As if this weren’t enough, now it has been found that those individuals with this condition have a greater likelihood for developing cancer later in life. This is a risk that health experts never really realized or focused on until now.

Ongoing Research and Proactive Measures to Reduce Risk

The reason why patients with hypercalcemia may develop cancer is still being researched, and therefore you may not find one consensus. Many health experts believe that the condition of calcium concentration creates enough of a risk alone. Then factor in the type of medication and treatment that may help an individual with this condition, which further elevates risk. Consider that the development of cancer later on may be due to the way in which an individual is treated to try to bring calcium back to a normal level. It’s important to assess whether the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks, but there are varying opinions.

So though you may not be directly affected by hypercalcemia, it is something that you need to be aware of. If the thyroid isn’t working properly or if your calcium levels somehow get off, then this condition can develop very easily. It’s important to know what treatment is best and to consider the long-term effects. It doesn’t necessarily mean that all individuals with this condition will develop cancer, but it is certainly something to be aware of. As a patient, being proactive with treatment methods and potential risks is always wise, and that is particularly true with this condition. It is hopeful that the risk will go down and the research will help patients with this condition in the short term and the long term.