There’s nothing that’s good about cancer. As a result, patients getting cancer treatment will in some cases feel compelled to dismiss cancer treatment side effects, such as hearing loss, as trivial. But it’s essential to keep in mind that, for a great many cancer patients, there is life after your disease. And, of course, you want a really full and happy life!
This means it’s essential to speak with your care team about decreasing and dealing with side effects caused by your treatment. You’ll be able to enjoy life after cancer more fully, for example, if you discuss possible balance and hearing problems that could arise post chemotherapy, with your care team.
Cancer treatment options
Cancer treatment has progressed considerably in the past couple of decades. The development of some cancers can even be prevented with vaccines. But generally, doctors will use one or more of three different ways to battle this disease: radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery.
Each treatment option has its own unique strengths and drawbacks, and none of them are mutually exclusive. The best treatment course will be guided by your diagnosis, your prognosis, and your care team.
Do hearing and balance issues come with all cancer treatments? Well, every patient is different, but generally, these side effects are limited to chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy – what is it?
Chemotherapy is a mix of treatments that utilize strong chemicals to destroy cancer cells. For a wide array of cancers, chemotherapy is the primary course of treatment because of its very successful track record. But chemotherapy can cause some really uncomfortable side effects because these chemicals are so strong. Here are several of these side effects:
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Nausea
- Loss of hearing
- Hair loss
- Mouth sores
- Vomiting
Every patient responds to chemotherapy in their own way. The particular mix of chemicals also has a substantial impact on the specific side effects. Most people are fairly well aware of some of these symptoms, like hair loss for example. But not so many people are aware of chemotherapy induced hearing loss.
Can hearing loss be brought about by chemotherapy?
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 related hearing loss irreversible? The answer is often yes.
So, which chemotherapy often comes with long-term hearing loss? Platinum-based chemical protocols (also called cisplatin-based chemotherapy) are more commonly responsible for hearing loss side effects. This type of therapy can be used on numerous forms of cancers but is most often used to treat head, neck, and gynecological cancers.
Scientists aren’t really sure how the cause and effect works, but the basic thought is that platinum-based chemotherapy chemicals are especially proficient at causing harm to the fragile hairs in your ear. Over time, this can trigger hearing loss, and that hearing loss is often permanent.
Even if you’re fighting cancer, you still need to pay attention to hearing loss
Hearing loss might not seem like that much of an issue when you’re fighting cancer. But there are substantial reasons why your hearing health is important, even in the midst of battling cancer:
- Hearing loss has been known to lead to social isolation. This can exacerbate lots of different conditions. In other words, getting the appropriate treatment (or even buying the right groceries) can become more difficult when you’re feeling socially isolated.
- Hearing loss, particularly neglected hearing loss, can negatively impact your mental health. Anxiety and depression are closely connected to neglected hearing loss. Somebody who is fighting cancer already has a heavy weight on their shoulders and the last thing they need is extra anxiety and depression.
- Tinnitus and balance problems can also be the result of chemo-related hearing loss. So can tinnitus also be triggered by chemotherapy? Well, unfortunately, the answer is yes. Tinnitus is often associated with balance problems which can also be an issue. When you’re recouping from chemotherapy, the last thing you need is to take a fall.
Decreasing other health issues while you’re fighting cancer will most 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 it’s important to add one more appointment to your list: schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist.
Going to a hearing specialist will help you do several things:
- Become a patient of a hearing specialist. If you experience hearing loss, your hearing specialist will have a more comprehensive understanding of your needs, your health history, and what your hearing treatment can look like.
- Set a hearing baseline. This will make it considerably easier to detect hearing loss in the future.
- If you do detect hearing loss, it will be easier to obtain rapid treatment.
So, can hearing loss as a result of chemo be reversed? No matter the cause, sensorineural hearing loss has no cure, unfortunately. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a treatment. Your hearing specialist will be capable of helping you treat and manage your hearing loss. This might mean basic monitoring or it might include a set of hearing aids.
It’s mostly frequencies in the higher register that go when your hearing loss is due to chemo. It might not even have any effect on your day-to-day hearing.
Your hearing health is important
Paying attention to your hearing is crucial. Talk over any concerns you may have about how chemotherapy could affect your hearing with your care team. You may not be able to change treatment options, but at least you’ll be able to closely track your symptoms and treat them appropriately.
Hearing loss can be caused by chemotherapy. But if you talk to your hearing specialist, they will help you make a plan that will help you get in front of the symptoms.