He does have cancer...could that be the cause?
2007-08-26 15:44:15 · 3 answers · asked by april_nester25 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Thanks for the responses! It makes more sense now! His kidneys havent worked well in a while...and he is having Chemo for the cancer.
2007-08-27 00:45:04 · update #1
The reasons for high potassium level could be:
The blood sample was hemolysed (damaged)
His kidneys are not working well and are not able to get rid of excess potassium.
He is actually getting excess potassium in his diet or as medication.
I can't offhand think of a cancer which would, by itself, cause the potassium to go up although I suppose some of the rare hormone secreting tumors could do so.
2007-08-26 16:03:27 · answer #1 · answered by Vinay K 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If he is undergoing chemo or radiation, tumor cell lysis releases a lot of potassium in the blood. I.e. when a tumor cell dies, it explodes. Cells have high potassium levels inside the cell which then goes into the blood stream.
There are other causes as well.
2007-08-27 07:26:42 · answer #2 · answered by dwp_hornblower 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
renal failure is most likely...
2007-08-27 14:50:58 · answer #3 · answered by Steve B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋