Dear Dr. Roach: I have calcium buildup throughout my vascular system. My legs were operated on, and the surgeon had to drill through the calcium to open up the blood flow. I am now told that there is calcium buildup on my aortic valve, which I had replaced four years ago.

I also have prostate cancer and have been prescribed Orgovyx, along with 1,000 mg of calcium due to Orgovyx weakening the bones. What is your opinion? Does the calcium supplement add to the calcium buildup more than it benefits my bones? Would my vascular system stop building up calcium if I stopped taking the calcium supplement? — W.H.

Answer: There is some evidence that calcium supplements do increase the risk of calcium deposition in blood vessels, but the evidence is mixed. There are strong studies showing that there is no risk from supplements.

Without a consensus, I can’t say for sure whether stopping the calcium supplement will protect your arteries. Stopping calcium supplements would not stop the calcium buildup in the blood vessels, as this process happens in many people who do not take calcium supplements. But stopping the supplements may slow it down.

It is clear that calcium is necessary for bones. Orgovyx blocks the body’s ability to make testosterone. Without testosterone, prostate cancer cells have a much harder time growing, but the bones will get weaker as well. However, there are other ways to protect your bones, with standard treatments for osteoporosis like Fosamax or Prolia if the bones are already affected.

Calcium is still needed, even with a medicine to reduce the loss of mineral from the bones. Dietary calcium does not increase the risk of calcium in the blood vessels in the same way that calcium supplements do.

It is not hard to get enough calcium in the diet through dairy; almonds; lentils; leafy, green vegetables; and small fish with the bones still intact, such as canned sardines and salmon. This is the best way to get the benefits of calcium for your bones without potential harm to your blood vessels.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 72-year-old male in good health, and I have routinely donated blood five to six times a year. I am not on any prescription medications. I have not seen a definitive study as to whether I should continue to donate. Will my immune system be compromised? Is there an upside or a downside to donating blood? — K.K.

Answer: Thank you for being a blood donor. The major upside is that you are helping people in your community. There is still no substitute for donated blood. The need increases as people live longer with serious illnesses and as we continue to have treatments that keep a person from being able to make their own blood (in addition to the loss of blood during surgery).

The risk to you as a blood donor is very small. The major risk is fainting. Donating too often can cause a person to develop anemia, which is why blood banks check your blood first before allowing you to donate.

Although you do lose some white blood cells when you donate, the body quickly makes these up. In studies that focus on long-term, frequent blood donors like yourself, there is no difference in the amount of white blood cells.

Please keep donating as long as you want, while recognizing that it’s very safe.