Any disorder of your kidneys, including kidney cancer, impairs your kidney function. This impairment causes your kidneys to excrete much less of certain substances, such as potassium, than what is considered normal. Potassium builds up in your body and can eventually lead to a dangerously high serum potassium level that can be life threatening.
Hyperkalemia
Doctors diagnose hyperkalemia when your serum potassium level rises to over 6.0 mEq/L. A normal serum level of the electrolyte is anywhere between a range of 3.6 to 4.8 mEq/L. Because hyperkalemia is so dangerous if left untreated, your doctor monitors your potassium level closely during any time of known impaired kidney function. In some cases, although a patient is otherwise asymptomatic, doctors suspect kidney involvement based on abnormal electrolyte values, including potassium. Therefore, if you are symptomatic, it is important to report those symptoms to your doctor immediately.
Symptoms
Due to your kidney cancer, expect your doctor to implement a strict protocol for laboratory evaluation of your serum potassium level. However, between these evaluations, monitor yourself closely for symptoms of the imbalance. Early hyperkalemia is generally asymptomatic. Once it progresses, however, you may notice that you are more fatigued--and that your muscles seem weaker--than normal. You may experience nausea. You may also feel like your heart is not beating normally, and your chest may hurt. Diarrhea is a sign of an excessively high potassium level.
Treatment
Emergency treatment of acute hyperkalemia is critical to avoid serious life-threatening complications of the disorder, which include cardiac arrest. When altered kidney function is the cause of your high potassium level, expect your doctor to order immediate dialysis treatment to remove some of the excess potassium. Doctors also administer special drugs called cation-exchange resin medications to help your body eliminate excess potassium through your gastrointestinal system. Diuretic medications, sodium bicarbonate and intravenous administration of insulin, glucose and calcium are all methods doctors commonly use to reverse a high potassium levels.
Discharge
Once your potassium is below a life-threatening level, your doctor will discharge you with instructions regarding ways to lower your future risk of hyperkalemia. If your doctor prescribes medications to keep your potassium in check, take them -- and all other medications -- exactly how she recommends. Be sure to keep all office and laboratory visits to ensure careful monitoring of your potassium. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, as they complicate serum potassium control. And if your doctor prescribes a low-potassium diet, comply with that diet as directed.
