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Aussie Girl · 03-13-2014, 01:01 AM

Dear Lovemyboys3,

Lots of causes for this and unlikely for there to be a real problem. It is a sign of muscle damage of any sort. Probably shouldn't have had that blood test and you'd be none the wiser. Almost certainly due to the recent surgery. Can even occur with heavy exercise. Should be trending down on the subsequent tests.

The oncologist is being cautious - inflammation in the muscle due to an immune disorder (eg. polymyositis, dermatomyositis) can cause the CPK and myoglobin to rise. This is unlikely, unless you had the condition prior to chemo. Immune disorders like this, or rheumatoid arthritis, can rebound once chemo ceases.

During chemo, there is muscle damage and I expect this would cause some rise in these tests, which would resolve as the muscles heal (takes a few months at least). I think it was bad timing to have these tests so soon after chemo and especially the operation!

Hope you find out the results soon, but I suspect your oncologist won't be too worried.

Aussie Girl

03-13-2014, 01:01 AM	#3
Aussie Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 260	Re: Elevated CPK and Myoglobin ??? Dear Lovemyboys3, Lots of causes for this and unlikely for there to be a real problem. It is a sign of muscle damage of any sort. Probably shouldn't have had that blood test and you'd be none the wiser. Almost certainly due to the recent surgery. Can even occur with heavy exercise. Should be trending down on the subsequent tests. The oncologist is being cautious - inflammation in the muscle due to an immune disorder (eg. polymyositis, dermatomyositis) can cause the CPK and myoglobin to rise. This is unlikely, unless you had the condition prior to chemo. Immune disorders like this, or rheumatoid arthritis, can rebound once chemo ceases. During chemo, there is muscle damage and I expect this would cause some rise in these tests, which would resolve as the muscles heal (takes a few months at least). I think it was bad timing to have these tests so soon after chemo and especially the operation! Hope you find out the results soon, but I suspect your oncologist won't be too worried. Aussie Girl __________________ 31mm Infiltrating duct carcinoma Grade 3, ER/PR-, HER2+, Neg Sentinel nodes x 5 49mm field of DCIS 17 June '13: Screen detected impalpable mass, Mammogram neg, US. 25 June '13: Diagnosed after multiple biopsies and MRIs 28 June '13: Left lumpectomey 4 July '13: Left Mastectomy 12 August '13: Commenced TCH chemo Mid December '13 : TCH finished. Herceptin continuing three weekly. 4 August 2014- Herceptin infusions finished. END OF THERAPY - YAY!