Can too much calcium in your kidneys be a sign of kidney disease or cancer?

Hypercalcemia (high calcium levels in the blood) can be a sign of an underlying health condition, including kidney disease or cancer. Here's how they are interconnected:

Kidney Disease: The kidneys play a vital role in regulating calcium levels in the body. Healthy kidneys efficiently filter and excrete excess calcium. However, when the kidneys are damaged or diseased, their ability to regulate calcium is impaired, leading to elevated calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcemia). Kidney failure or advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common cause of hypercalcemia.

Cancer: Certain types of cancer can also cause hypercalcemia. This is particularly associated with some types of lung cancer, breast cancer, multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer), and certain lymphomas. In these cases, the cancer cells release substances that interfere with calcium regulation, leading to an increase in blood calcium levels.

Hypercalcemia itself can cause various symptoms, such as:

- Nausea

- Vomiting

- Bone pain

- Weakness

- Fatigue

- Kidney stones

- Mental confusion or disorientation

If you experience persistent hypercalcemia, it's important to see a doctor for proper evaluation to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment. The healthcare provider may perform blood and urine tests, imaging studies, and other diagnostic tests to ascertain the source of the high calcium levels and develop a management plan.