There’s nothing that’s good about cancer. Because of this, patients getting cancer treatment will in some cases feel compelled to disregard cancer treatment side effects, such as hearing loss, as trivial. But it’s essential to remember that, for a lot of cancer patients, there is life after your disease. And, of course, you want a very full and happy life!
Talking to your healthcare team about controlling and minimizing side effects is so essential because of this. You’ll be able to enjoy life after cancer more fully, for example, if you discuss possible balance and hearing problems that could occur after chemotherapy, with your care team.
Cancer treatment options
Cancer treatment has advanced considerably in the past 20 years. There are even some vaccines that can stop the development of some cancers in the first place! But generally, doctors will make use of one or more of three different ways to combat this disease: radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery.
Each treatment option has its own distinctive strengths and drawbacks, and none of them are mutually exclusive. The best treatment course will be determined by your diagnosis, your prognosis, and your care team.
Do hearing and balance issues come with all cancer treatments? Well, each patient is different, but in general, these side effects are limited to chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy – what is it?
Chemotherapy kills cancer cells with a combination of strong chemicals. Because of its highly successful track record, chemotherapy is often the main treatment option for a wide variety of cancers. But chemotherapy can produce some very uncomfortable side effects because these chemicals are so powerful. Those side effects can include:
- Mouth sores
- Nausea
- Hearing loss
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Hair loss
- Vomiting
Every patient reacts to chemotherapy in their own way. The particular combination of chemicals also has a substantial impact on the specific side effects. Some of these side effects are often pretty visible and well known (hair loss, for example). But that’s not always the case with chemotherapy-caused hearing loss.
Does chemo produce hearing loss?
Loss of hearing isn’t one of the better known side effects of chemotherapy. But the reality is that chemotherapy can and does cause hearing loss. Is hearing loss from chemo permanent? In many cases, yes.
So is there a specific type of chemo that is more likely to result in hearing loss? Platinum-based chemical protocols (also known as cisplatin-based chemotherapy) are more typically responsible for hearing loss side effects. These types of therapies are most often used to treat head, neck, and gynecological cancers, but they can be used for other cancers too.
Scientists think that platinum-based chemotherapy chemicals attack and damage the little fragile stereocilia in the ears, but the exact cause-and-effect relationship is still not clear. Over time, this can cause hearing loss, and that hearing loss is often permanent.
Hearing loss is something you want to pay attention to, even when you’re fighting cancer
When you’re fighting cancer, hearing loss may not seem like your most pressing concern. But there are significant reasons why your hearing health is relevant, even while you’re battling cancer:
- Tinnitus and balance problems can also be the outcome of chemo-related hearing loss. So can tinnitus also be caused by chemotherapy? Well, unfortunately, the answer is yes. This tinnitus and loss of balance can be an issue, too. You don’t want to fall down when you’re recuperating from your chemotherapy treatment!
- Hearing loss can negatively affect your mental health, especially if that hearing loss is untreated. Anxiety and depression are closely associated with untreated hearing loss. Battling cancer can, similarly, increase depression and anxiety, so you don’t want to make matters worse.
- Social isolation is frequently the result of hearing loss. Lots of different conditions can be exacerbated by this. If you’re feeling isolated socially, it can become laborious to do daily activities, especially getting appropriate treatment.
Reducing other health concerns while you’re fighting cancer will likely be a priority, and something you’ll want to speak with your care team about.
So what should you do?
When you’re fighting cancer, your life becomes a laundry list of doctor’s appointments. But don’t allow that to stop you from setting up an appointment for a hearing test.
Here are several things that visiting a hearing specialist will help with:
- Establish a baseline for your hearing. Then, if you develop hearing loss in the future, it will be easier to detect.
- Begin a relationship with a hearing professional. If you detect hearing loss, your hearing specialist will have a more in depth understanding of your needs, your health history, and what your hearing treatment should be.
- If you do experience hearing loss, it will be easier to get rapid treatment.
So if you develop hearing loss from chemo, can it be cured? Regardless of the cause, sensorineural hearing loss has no cure, sadly. But there are treatment options. Your hearing loss can be treated and managed with the assistance of your hearing specialist. This could mean basic monitoring or it may include a pair of hearing aids.
It’s mostly frequencies in the higher range that go when your hearing loss is due to chemo. Your day-to-day hearing might not even really be impacted.
Caring for your hearing is important
It’s critical to take care of your hearing health. Discuss any concerns you might have about how chemotherapy might affect your hearing with your care team. You might not be able to change treatment options, but at least you’ll be able to closely track your symptoms and treat them accordingly.
Hearing loss can be induced by chemotherapy. But if you talk to your hearing specialist, they will help you develop a plan that will help you stay in front of the symptoms.
