Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Statement Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To see our full Nondiscrimination Statement, click here.

Campus Construction Update

Starting September 14, we’re closing the Menino building lobby entrance. This, along with the ongoing Yawkey building entrance closure, will help us bring you an even better campus experience that matches the exceptional care you've come to expect. Please enter the Menino and Yawkey buildings through the Moakley building, and make sure to leave extra time to get to your appointment. Thank you for your patience. 

Click here to learn more about our campus redesign. 

Parathyroid cancer is a rare type of cancer that develops in one of your four parathyroid glands. These glands are in the base of your neck, on the thyroid gland. They make a type of hormone called parathyroid hormone, which controls the calcium in your body.

Symptoms

Parathyroid cancer causes high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia). This causes most of the symptoms of parathyroid cancer, which include:

  • A lump in your neck
  • Tiredness
  • Feeling weak
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Being much thirstier than usual
  • Urinating more than usual
  • Kidney problems, such as kidney stones
  • Bone pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Constipation
  • Confusion or trouble concentrating
  • Pain in your side or back that doesn’t go away
  • Broken bones
  • Problems speaking

Treatment

Surgery is the main treatment for parathyroid cancer. Your surgeon will remove the parathyroid gland and tissue around it, including part of the thyroid gland and lymph nodes. Your doctor may also recommend radiation to help keep your cancer from coming back, or if the tumor can’t be fully removed with surgery. New treatments for parathyroid cancer, including immunotherapies, are being tested in clinical trials.

You may also need medication to lower your calcium levels, especially before surgery. Possible medicines for this include:

  • Bisphosphonates
  • Calcitonin
  • Gallium nitrate
  • Cinacalcet

Risk Factors 

You may have an increased risk of parathyroid cancer if you’ve previously had head or neck radiation. Certain rare conditions can also increase your risk of parathyroid cancer, including:

  • Familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP)
  • Hyperparathyroidism jaw tumor (HPT-JT)
  • Multiple endocrine neoplasia type I

Departments and Programs Who Treat This Condition

department

Head and Neck Cancer Program

Our multidisciplinary team brings together experts who collaborate on your unique head and neck cancer care from consultation through treatment and follow-up.