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How Much Calcium Should One Take for Bone Cancer?

During the process of bone cancer, calcium is something your body might be producing too much of. In the case of metastatic cancer, which begins in another organ or tissue and then makes its way to the bone, calcium deposits are released into the blood stream on a constant basis, elevating calcium levels to very dangerous levels.

  1. What is Bone Cancer?

    • There are a few different types of bone cancer, but only one actually begins its journey in the bone. This is called primary bone cancer, or a sarcoma, and it is very uncommon when compared to metastatic cancer, which begins in another organ and travels to the bone. Children and younger adults are more likely to be diagnosed with bone cancer than adults. People with bone cancer are stricken with intense pain and swelling of the bones. Mysterious fractures can occur to the bones because they are weakened by the cancer. Simply walking can end with the bone breaking.

    Types of Bone Cancer

    • The most common type of bone cancer is called osteosarcoma, and it mostly affects younger people. Children and young adults, ages 8 to 27 are most commonly diagnosed with this type of cancer, with boys being affected more than girls. Ewing's sarcoma forms in the middle of larger bones like leg/hip bones. Chondrosarcoma is an adult form of bone cancer and usually forms in the joints on the cartilage. With any form of a sarcoma, calcium is overproduced.

    Too Much Calcium?

    • Taking too much calcium is a very large mistake if you have bone cancer, so continue to operate normally with the calcium intake. Do not overdo it because if you do, the calcium that you think is helping you, could end up hurting you even more. Calcium is what makes bones hard, and in the case of sarcomas, calcium is overproduced and is spread to different organs. These deposits result in your other organs taking on the characteristics of your bones by becoming denser, and eventually hardening.

    Treatments

    • There are a wide variety of treatments available to people suffering from bone cancer. Surgery, radiation therapy, bisphosphonates, hormone therapy and chemotherapy are all different ways to combat the cancer. All of them serve a purpose and quite often, people go through many, if not all, the treatments. In the case of bisphosphonates, you will be given this to combat the pain that the bone cancer causes, making it easier to go about your normal, daily activities.

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