There’s nothing that’s good about cancer. Because of this, patients receiving cancer treatment will sometimes feel compelled to disregard cancer treatment side effects, like 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!
This means it’s essential to speak with your care team about minimizing and managing side effects caused by your treatment. You’ll be able to enjoy life after cancer more fully, for example, if you talk about potential balance and hearing problems that could occur after chemotherapy, with your care team.
Available cancer treatments
In the past 20 years, considerable developments in cancer treatment have been made. The development of some cancers can even be prevented with vaccines. But, generally speaking, there are still three standard ways that doctors will combat this serious disease: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
There are unique drawbacks and strengths to each of these, and sometimes, they’re used together. 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, every patient is different, but generally, these side effects are limited to chemotherapy.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells with a combination of strong chemicals. Because of its extremely successful track record, chemotherapy is often the main treatment choice for a wide variety of cancers. But because these chemicals are so strong, chemotherapy can lead to some uncomfortable side effects. Here are several of these side effects:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Mouth sores
- Hearing loss
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Hair loss (including your nose hairs)
Side effects of chemotherapy often differ from person to person. Side effects may also change depending on the particular combination of chemicals used. Some of these side effects tend to be fairly visible and well known (hair loss, for example). But that’s not necessarily the case with chemotherapy-induced hearing loss.
Does chemo bring about hearing loss?
Loss of hearing is not one of the more well known side effects of chemotherapy. But hearing loss can be an actual side effect of chemotherapy. Is hearing loss from chemo permanent? The answer is often yes.
So is there a specific type of chemo that is more likely to result in hearing loss? Platinum-based chemical protocols (also called 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 on other cancers as well.
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 unclear. Over time, this can trigger hearing loss, and that hearing loss tends to be permanent.
Hearing loss is something you want to keep your eye on, even when you’re battling cancer
When you’re battling cancer, hearing loss might not feel like your biggest concern. But even when you’re dealing with cancer, there are significant reasons why the health of your hearing is important:
- Hearing loss, especially neglected hearing loss, can negatively affect your mental health. Untreated hearing loss is closely related to increases in depression and anxiety. Somebody who is fighting cancer already has a heavy weight on their shoulders and the last thing they need is extra anxiety and depression.
- Chemotherapy-caused hearing loss can also result in balance problems and tinnitus. So, now you’re thinking: wait, does chemotherapy lead to tinnitus too? Well, regrettably, the answer is yes. Tinnitus is often connected with balance problems which can also be a problem. You don’t want to fall when you’re recovering from your chemotherapy treatment!
- Hearing loss has been known to result in social isolation. Many different conditions can be exacerbated by this. In other words, receiving the correct treatment (or even buying the right groceries) can become harder when you’re feeling socially isolated.
You’ll want to talk to your care team about decreasing other health issues while you’re fighting cancer.
So what should you do?
When you’re battling cancer, your life becomes never-ending doctor’s appointments. But it’s important to add one more appointment to your list: make an appointment with a hearing specialist.
Seeing a hearing specialist will help you do several things:
- Set a baseline for your hearing. This will make it considerably easier to recognize hearing loss in the future.
- Become a patient of a hearing specialist. Your hearing specialist will have a more comprehensive knowledge of the state of your hearing and its needs, if you do have hearing loss.
- It will be easier to receive fast treatment when you experience the signs or symptoms of hearing loss.
So, can hearing loss from chemo be reversed? No matter the cause, sensorineural hearing loss can’t be cured, unfortunately. But there are treatment options. Your hearing loss can be treated and managed with the help of your hearing specialist. This might mean simple monitoring or it might include a pair of hearing aids.
It should be mentioned, too, that most chemotherapy-caused hearing loss usually affects the higher-range of hearing frequencies. It might not necessarily have any impact on your day-to-day hearing.
Caring for your hearing is important
It’s essential to take care of your hearing health. Discuss any concerns you may have about how chemotherapy could impact your hearing with your care team. You may not be able to alter your treatment options, but at least you’ll be able to closely monitor your symptoms and treat them accordingly.
Hearing loss can be caused by chemotherapy. But with the right plan, and a little assistance from your hearing specialist, you’ll be able to find effective treatments that keep you hearing better longer.
