Dealing with cancer is awful. Because of this, patients receiving cancer treatment will in some cases feel compelled to disregard cancer treatment side effects, like hearing loss, as insignificant. But it’s critical to keep in mind that, for a great many cancer patients, there is life after your disease. And you want that life to be as meaningful and prosperous as possible.
Speaking with your healthcare team about controlling and minimizing side effects is so significant for this reason. By discussing potential hearing loss, tinnitus, or balance problems that might develop from chemotherapy, for instance, you’ll be better prepared for what comes next, and be in a better position to fully enjoy life after cancer.
Cancer treatment options
Cancer treatment has progressed significantly in the past 20 years. There are even some vaccines that can prevent the development of certain cancers in the first place! But, broadly speaking, there are still three basic ways that doctors will combat this serious disease: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
There are unique drawbacks and strengths to each of these, and in some cases, they’re used in tandem. Your care team will use your diagnosis and prognosis to establish the best course of treatment.
Do all cancer treatments lead to hearing and balance problems? Normally, these side effects only accompany chemotherapy, but every patient is different.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells with a combination of strong chemicals. For a wide array of cancers, chemotherapy is the primary course of treatment because of its extremely successful track record. But chemotherapy can create some very uncomfortable side effects because these chemicals are so strong. Those side effects can include:
- Hair loss (including your nose hairs)
- Mouth sores
- Loss of hearing
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Side effects of chemotherapy often differ from person to person. The particular combination of chemicals also has a substantial effect on the specific side effects. Some of these side effects are often pretty visible and well known (hair loss, for instance). But not so many individuals are aware of chemotherapy induced hearing loss.
Does chemo produce hearing loss?
Loss of hearing isn’t one of the more well known side effects of chemotherapy. But hearing loss can be a real side effect of chemotherapy. Is hearing loss from chemo permanent? In many instances, yes.
So is there a particular type of chemo that is more likely to result in hearing loss? In general, hearing loss tends to be most common with platinum-based chemical protocols (called cisplatin-based chemotherapy). These types of therapies are most often used to treat head, neck, and gynecological cancers, but they can be used for other cancers also.
Scientists believe that platinum-based chemotherapy chemicals attack and damage the little fragile stereocilia in the ears, but the precise cause-and-effect relationship is still unclear. This can cause hearing loss that is often irreversible.
Even if you’re fighting cancer, you should still pay attention to hearing loss
Hearing loss may not seem like that much of a worry when you’re battling cancer. But even when you’re coping with cancer, there are considerable reasons why the health of your hearing is important:
- Hearing loss has been known to result in social isolation. This can exacerbate many different conditions. If you’re feeling isolated socially, it can become tedious to do daily activities, especially getting appropriate treatment.
- Hearing loss can negatively impact your mental health, particularly if that hearing loss is neglected. Anxiety and depression are closely linked to untreated hearing loss. Someone who is battling cancer already has a heavy weight on their shoulders and the last thing they need is added anxiety and depression.
- Tinnitus and balance issues can also be the result of chemo-related hearing loss. So, now you’re thinking: hold on, does chemotherapy cause tinnitus too? Well, regrettably, the answer is yes. Tinnitus is often connected with balance issues which can also be a problem. You don’t want to fall when you’re recovering from your chemotherapy treatment!
You’ll want to talk to your care team about decreasing other health concerns while you’re fighting cancer.
So what should you do?
When you’re battling cancer, your life becomes a laundry list of doctor’s appointments. But it’s important to add one more appointment to your list: make an appointment with a hearing specialist.
Here are several things that visiting a hearing specialist will help with:
- It will be easier to receive fast treatment when you detect the signs or symptoms of hearing loss.
- Establish a baseline for your hearing. This will make it significantly easier to recognize hearing loss in the future.
- Begin a relationship with a hearing professional. If you detect hearing loss, your hearing specialist will have a more comprehensive picture of your needs, your health history, and what your hearing treatment can look like.
So if you experience hearing loss from chemo, can it be reversed? No matter the cause, sensorineural hearing loss can’t be cured, sadly. But there are treatment possibilities. Your hearing loss can be treated and managed with the help of your hearing specialist. You might need hearing aids or you may simply need your hearing to be monitored.
It’s mostly frequencies in the higher range that go when your hearing loss is caused by chemo. It might not even have any effect on your day-to-day hearing.
Your hearing health is important
It’s essential to take care of your hearing health. Discuss any worries you may have about how chemotherapy may impact your hearing with your care team. Your treatment may not be able to be altered but at least you’ll be better able to track your symptoms and to get faster treatment.
Chemotherapy can cause hearing loss. But if you consult your hearing specialist, they will help you develop a plan that will help you stay in front of the symptoms.