Other treatments should focus on controlling nausea, vomiting, and fever, encouraging continued activity, and limiting use of drugs that cause sleepiness. Moderate to severe hypercalcemia Replacing fluids is the first and most important step in treating moderate or severe hypercalcemia. Replacing fluids will not restore normal calcium levels in all patients, but it is still important to do first. The patient's mental state should improve, and nausea and vomiting should decrease within the first 24 hours, but this improvement is only temporary. Steroids and phosphate may also be used to treat hypercalcemia.
Dialysis is used as a treatment for hypercalcemia in patients with kidney failure.
Other drugs are currently being studied as possible treatments for hypercalcemia. Combinations of drugs may also be used. They should also learn how to prevent hypercalcemia, what can make it worse, and when to see the doctor. Supportive care Even with improved treatment for hypercalcemia, many patients do not survive this complication of cancer. Only effective anticancer therapy improves the patient's chances for long-term survival.