Discussion Introduction Hypercalcaemia is the most common life threatening metabolic disorder associated with cancer. Ten per cent of cancer patients develop hypercalcaemia. More severe symptoms may be nausea, vomiting, confusion, drowsiness or even coma. Pain may be precipitated or exacerbated by hypercalcaemia. Dehydration or cardiovascular collapse may occur in severe cases.
Diagnosis is by biochemical investigation.
Allowances should be made for hypoalbuminaemia commonly seen in these patients. These notes have been reproduced from the Society's October 1995 Newsletter with permission from the management committee and the author. Unit St Vincents Hospital, Lismore. The body stores 1 Kg of calcium mostly in bone, and the kidney monitors this. Two hundred mg is absorbed from the diet each day, and a similar amount is excreted by the kidney, maintaining homeostasis.