Hypercalcemia of Malignancy

Hypercalcemia of malignancy is an abnormal amount of calcium in the blood. When hypercalcemia of malignancy occurs in a patient with cancer, it may also be referred to as hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM). Hypercalcemia of malignancy is a common complication among cancer patients, affecting approximately 10% to 20% of all patients at some point during the course of their disease and 20% to 40% of patients with advanced cancer.

Hypercalcemia of malignancy may occur because your cancer has spread to the bones, causing calcium to be released, or your cancer may release certain hormones that affect the normal systems that control the calcium level in your blood. Usually, you do not cause the calcium level to go up too high by drinking too much milk or by eating too many dairy products; the imbalance occurs because of your cancer.

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