Calcium

• Sarcoid, ca, myeloma: Hypercalcaemia (CKS), Hypocalcaemia (Patient.info)

• Patients with severe hypercalcaemia (>3.5mmol/l) should be referred urgently (same day) for assessment and treatment. These patients are likely to have an underlying malignancy. (RCGP, July 2024)

• Hypercalcaemia usually has a non-specific presentation and includes the symptoms described exhibited by the patient. About 40% of breast tumours are liable to result in this, especially where there is bony spread.

• Hypocalcaemia and hypokalaemia are both associated with tetany and there is no direct link with malignancy. 

• Hypomagnesaemia is occasionally associated with cisplatin chemotherapy.

• Hypermagnesaemia is a rare condition found in neonates – again with no malignant association.

Resource

• RCGP. Curriculum Topic Guides: people at the end-of-life. 2019