joyce's Cancer Blog
March 28, 2008
| Information On Parathyroid Surgery | Views: 258 |
My friend Louise (weezie) from Canada asked me about what led up to my parathyroid surgery. I thought I would do a post on it just in case anyone else was interested. The first sign of a problem was in 2004 when my parathyroid hormone level became slightly elevated. We moved to SC about that time and changed doctors. While I was in SC my doctor did a bone density test and diagnosed me on February 20, 2006, with LOW BONE MASS OR OSTEOPENIA. They immediately started me on 1500 mg. calcium to treat the Osteopenia. Nothing else was said about it until the summer of 2007 when my blood showed a slightly elevated calcium level. My doctor sent me to an Endocrinologist. She did blood tests, 24 hour urine tests and another parathyroid hormone test. The calcium level in my urine was quite a bit higher than in my blood so she requested a SESTAMIBI SCAN of the parathyroid glands. This scan showed a bad parathyroid gland on the lower left. She immediately took me off the extra calcium I was told to take. The parathyroid glands are about the size of a pea or smaller and she said my bad one was over 2 inches. She said without the surgery it could cause damage to my bones and my kidneys with possible kidney stones. They say cancer in the parathyroid gland is very rare so hopefully when I see the surgeon next Wednesday, April 2, I will get good news and this will be the end of it. I will keep you posted.
A note to Louise…I got some chocolate for Easter and it was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. I LOVE CHOCOLATE but I try not to eat it too often.
I hope all my wonderful friends here had a nice Easter. We have beautiful spring weather here in NC and the flowers are blooming. That always perks up my spirits a bit.
My love and my prayers are with all of you. Hugs
05.04.08 - 
Thanks for your support -
Dear Joyce; Many thanks for your explaination as I am always curious how things begin. Look for my new blog about Bisphosphonates. Were you on any bone enhancing products before you were given the 1500 mg. of calcium and did your Oncologists give you a bone scan after your masectomies? My surgeon did a full bone scan right after surgery which is uncommon as my Oncologist said he wouldn’t be having any discussions about the possible secondary cancer to my bones but just giving me the arimidex if not for the radiologist’s report. See my new post regarding the follow up of that. Thanks for posting you are always helpful with your information and a guide to others. Louise from Canada eh.
Hi Joyce good information. That is what this site is all about. And the support we give to each other.
Hug Sherri
Glad to hear thing are fine with you and thanks for your good thoughts for me.
Hug Sherri