Info
Malignant hypercalcemia
Side effects
What it means
An increase in blood calcium levels caused by cancer, either through bone metastases or through substances released by the tumor. It causes fatigue, excessive thirst, confusion and requires prompt treatment.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Metastasis
- The spread of cancer cells from the site of origin to other organs or tissues. Metastases show that the disease has spread to distant sites and they influence the stage, the prognosis and the type of treatment recommended.
- Alopecia (hair loss)
- A common side effect of chemotherapy, which also affects the hair on your scalp. Hair loss is usually temporary, and your hair grows back after treatment, sometimes with a slightly different texture or color.
- Anaemia
- A fall in the number of red blood cells or in haemoglobin, which leads to tiredness, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath. In cancer care, it can be caused by the disease itself or by treatments.
Other terms in “Side effects”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.