loss of hearing after chemo

rarph123
rarph123 Member Posts: 64
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Just finished 8 chemo and lost 90 percent of hearing in both ears.Dr.said it would be at least 3 mo. before its known if this is perm.Has any one had this problem?

Comments

  • Puggle
    Puggle Member Posts: 88 Member
    #2
    Lots of issues with chemo but not hearing loss
    Hi Rarph,

    My husband has had multiple issues with chemo but it doesn't seem like he's had any hearing loss. He had 3 treatments of cisplatin along with radiation.

    What type of chemo were you receiving? Was there any indication that your hearing was suffering throughout the treatments or did it just start suddenly when they were done?
  • rarph123
    rarph123 Member Posts: 64
    #3
    Puggle said:

    Lots of issues with chemo but not hearing loss
    Hi Rarph,

    My husband has had multiple issues with chemo but it doesn't seem like he's had any hearing loss. He had 3 treatments of cisplatin along with radiation.

    What type of chemo were you receiving? Was there any indication that your hearing was suffering throughout the treatments or did it just start suddenly when they were done?

    loss of hearing
    Had same type of chemo but 8 of them plus 36 rad on lung and36 on neck all in a period of two mo. Had slight hearing problem but now my wife has to stand right next to me for me to hear==thanks for reply-
  • Puggle
    Puggle Member Posts: 88 Member
    #4
    rarph123 said:

    loss of hearing
    Had same type of chemo but 8 of them plus 36 rad on lung and36 on neck all in a period of two mo. Had slight hearing problem but now my wife has to stand right next to me for me to hear==thanks for reply-

    Wow
    Wow, you got a triple whammy. Did you get IV fluids before and after the chemo? After the second treatment my husband was going for follow up IV fluids for 1 week. He said it made him feel better, like it was helping to flush all of the chemicals out. I'm hoping that even though we've seen some of the side effects from this drug (kidney issues and mild neuropathy) they won't be long lasting because of that. I hope your hearing issues improve.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
    Hi rarph

    Yes in some cases hearing loss due to side affects of chemo can be permanent. In my care it was not the chemo but the radiation to the head that affected my hearing. I have 15% of hearing in the right ear and 10 % of hearing in the left ear and it is permanent with no hope of getting better but worse with time.

    I wish you the best and that your hearing all comes back.
    Hondo
  • rarph123
    rarph123 Member Posts: 64
    #6
    Puggle said:

    Wow
    Wow, you got a triple whammy. Did you get IV fluids before and after the chemo? After the second treatment my husband was going for follow up IV fluids for 1 week. He said it made him feel better, like it was helping to flush all of the chemicals out. I'm hoping that even though we've seen some of the side effects from this drug (kidney issues and mild neuropathy) they won't be long lasting because of that. I hope your hearing issues improve.

    hearing loss and double whammy
    hey Puggle
    Thanks for reply-just read your post-hate to say but I gave my wife a lot of verbal abuse I was so sick from the amount of treatments that I took it out on her-she's a strong woman but the stress was taking a toll on both of us.We had a counslor come in to help us out. I guess we always hurt the one's we love the most.Yes they told me in front this was going to be a harsh treatment and @77 with weght down to 117 I had no choice--did not know that the misery after treatment was going to be this bad. Have feeding tube but only use it twice a day. Wife feeds me twice daily Creame of Weat with honey mixed in and powered fiber and Whey for proteen--at first she mixed it quite thin and now I can eat it much thicker. Lunch is chicken noodle or creame of chicken put thru. blender--have a problem swalling she pures fruit mixed with yogart and weight @ 125 Hope any of this helps.
    Ralph& Carol
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #7
    Hondo said:

    Hi rarph

    Yes in some cases hearing loss due to side affects of chemo can be permanent. In my care it was not the chemo but the radiation to the head that affected my hearing. I have 15% of hearing in the right ear and 10 % of hearing in the left ear and it is permanent with no hope of getting better but worse with time.

    I wish you the best and that your hearing all comes back.
    Hondo

    Hearing loss!
    I am 18 month's post treament & had a problem in my left ear soon after my treatment was complete. Radiation was mostly to the left side of my head & I also had 3 round's of cisplatin. I had significant wax build up in my left ear & I had to have it removed at the Dr's office as it was so hard after treatment. Make sure to watch out for that. I had a hearing test done by an audiologist as the hearing in my left ear has not improved. I am almost totally deaf in that ear now.My Oncologist stated radiation & chemo damage is the cause. There are hearing aids available & it seem's that the specific ones for our problem are called Cocolear implant's. They are surgically implanted & are supposed to work amazingly. I did wait to see if my hearing would come back but mine has not. I wish you a better outcome & hope this information is of some help!
    All my best
    Roz
  • BrianKrashpad
    BrianKrashpad Member Posts: 188
    #8
    I dodged that bullet
    I was surprised when my chemo doc asked me, before treatment, if I was a musician. Although I do kinda "dress like a musician" I didn't think it was so obvious that it would prompt such a question.

    In fact, it hadn't.

    The reason he'd asked was because hearing loss is a known side effect, but some chemo formulations are not as risky as others in that regard. So we chose the one of the 2 available/recommended meds that was less apt to cause hearing loss. One of the few times in life that being a musician actually redounded to my favor.

    Prayers and mojo for your hearing to come back!

    Be well.
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #9
    HEARING LOSS IN RIGHT EAR
    I received three rounds of Cisplatin and feel like I have lost some of my hearing in my right ear. I did not have a baseline test done before treatment, but even my wife notices that if she is to my right side and talking to me, i do not seem to hear everything she says. I also have pretty significant tinnitus mostly in my right ear.

    After nearly a year post treatment, I am assuming this is permanent.

    Mike
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #10
    Yep
    Lost a bit in both. Wouldn't mind some more if it got rid of the ringing that is constant. I can still hear the birds, frogs, crickets and rattlesnakes though. Sorry for your loss. Hope it comes back.

    AB
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #11
    Usually Cisplatin
    Hi Rarph, hearing loss is usually associated with chem o with Cisplatin. The damage is generally done to the ear hairs (not cilia) in the inner ear, they are killed. The other problem can be with the 8th cranial nerve that shares a path with the optic nerve (I believe). But, the damage is usually attributed to damage to the ear hairs. As I have understood it from research, and visiting Stanford ear clinic, chochlear implants are not effective in combating this problem. I have had considerable loss, and persisteng tinnatus, from Cisplatin chemotherapy. If you are early in your symptoms, then indeed things can improve for you. I'm hoping so.

    best, Hal
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #12
    Cisplatin Side Effects
    If you were early in treatment, I would have suggested communicating your side effects with your MD's.

    Hearing loss, tinnitus, neuropathy, kidney damage and various other side effects can be attributed to Cisplatin, and other chemo dugs I'm sure.

    Usually if caught early enough they can adjust the dosage or even change the type of chemo to something with less potentially severe side effects.

    I'm presuming they usually go with Cisplatin as it has proven itself effective in the cure if your body can handle it. But the other combinations of chemo appear to be effective also.

    Hoping that he gets some improvement over time.

    Best,
    John
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #13
    Skiffin16 said:

    Cisplatin Side Effects
    If you were early in treatment, I would have suggested communicating your side effects with your MD's.

    Hearing loss, tinnitus, neuropathy, kidney damage and various other side effects can be attributed to Cisplatin, and other chemo dugs I'm sure.

    Usually if caught early enough they can adjust the dosage or even change the type of chemo to something with less potentially severe side effects.

    I'm presuming they usually go with Cisplatin as it has proven itself effective in the cure if your body can handle it. But the other combinations of chemo appear to be effective also.

    Hoping that he gets some improvement over time.

    Best,
    John

    Hal!
    Thank you for the info on Cochlear Implant's! I was seriously considering them but now will research fuller! Plus they are very expensive & I would rather spend the money on my teeth! If you find a hearing aid that would help please notify as I truly need one now. I was also not happy to have to go through more pain as to the surgery to have them implanted.
    Thank you
    Roz
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #14
    rozaroo said:

    Hal!
    Thank you for the info on Cochlear Implant's! I was seriously considering them but now will research fuller! Plus they are very expensive & I would rather spend the money on my teeth! If you find a hearing aid that would help please notify as I truly need one now. I was also not happy to have to go through more pain as to the surgery to have them implanted.
    Thank you
    Roz

    Implants
    Hi Roz, I don't have the level of hearing loss to consider solutions such as implants, that is, I can still hear though I say "could you repeat that please" often. The ear is a very intricate construct and its amazing most go through life without any problems when you look at a picture of outer/middle/inner ear. I don't get why cochlear implants don't work, but was told by the west coast specialist--went there for latest greatest news on tinnitus--that they weren't a remedy. I don't get it because the inner ear hairs are located in the cochlea, and it seems that if you replace the whole thing, the damaged hair cells wouldn't be an issue. For anyone who has suffered profound hearing loss, and is thinking of implants, I would look further into the issue. They are always doing research on getting the inner ear hairs to grow back. They have had success in growing ear hairs in mice in France. I just don't think I could handle having a mouse in my ear though.

    I understand your dilemna on teeth/ears. I'm just waiting for the other foot to fall on my teeth as the enamel around the gum line has deteriorated considerably. Best of luck to you Roz.
    Hal
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #15
    Hal61 said:

    Implants
    Hi Roz, I don't have the level of hearing loss to consider solutions such as implants, that is, I can still hear though I say "could you repeat that please" often. The ear is a very intricate construct and its amazing most go through life without any problems when you look at a picture of outer/middle/inner ear. I don't get why cochlear implants don't work, but was told by the west coast specialist--went there for latest greatest news on tinnitus--that they weren't a remedy. I don't get it because the inner ear hairs are located in the cochlea, and it seems that if you replace the whole thing, the damaged hair cells wouldn't be an issue. For anyone who has suffered profound hearing loss, and is thinking of implants, I would look further into the issue. They are always doing research on getting the inner ear hairs to grow back. They have had success in growing ear hairs in mice in France. I just don't think I could handle having a mouse in my ear though.

    I understand your dilemna on teeth/ears. I'm just waiting for the other foot to fall on my teeth as the enamel around the gum line has deteriorated considerably. Best of luck to you Roz.
    Hal

    Thank you Hal
    I appreciate your input! My ENT suggested the implant's. However, he was very vague with explaning any further information to me. My right ear is fine so I am in no big hurry to solve the issue.
    Thank you
    Roz
  • jtl
    jtl Member Posts: 456
    #16
    Hal61 said:

    Usually Cisplatin
    Hi Rarph, hearing loss is usually associated with chem o with Cisplatin. The damage is generally done to the ear hairs (not cilia) in the inner ear, they are killed. The other problem can be with the 8th cranial nerve that shares a path with the optic nerve (I believe). But, the damage is usually attributed to damage to the ear hairs. As I have understood it from research, and visiting Stanford ear clinic, chochlear implants are not effective in combating this problem. I have had considerable loss, and persisteng tinnatus, from Cisplatin chemotherapy. If you are early in your symptoms, then indeed things can improve for you. I'm hoping so.

    best, Hal

    Hearing Loss
    I already have hearing loss and that was the primary reason for not going with Cisplatin, although there are some other disturbing side effects as well. I was told that I would need two infusions per day on Monday and Tuesday for 6 hours each. Apparently the time was needed to flush out the kidneys periodically. This was to go on for 3 sessions at 2 weeks apart. Then I read that less than 2/3 of the people are able to tolerate the 3rd treatment I chose Erbitux which is now approved as a first line drug by the FDA along with Cisplatin. It also has side effects but they don't appear to be as severe on a long term basis. So far my only side effect was the acneform rash which is very common. It looks terrible for a couple of weeks but then it pretty much goes away with the use of oral antibiotics. Miserable when you have the mask on and your face starts to itch. Why is it if you are carrying things in both hands your nose itches? It is never easy.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #17
    rozaroo said:

    Thank you Hal
    I appreciate your input! My ENT suggested the implant's. However, he was very vague with explaning any further information to me. My right ear is fine so I am in no big hurry to solve the issue.
    Thank you
    Roz

    ASL
    Well Roz, hoping it doesn't come to that, but just incase....at USF my language requirment was filled with courses in ASL...American Sign Language.

    Can you hear me now...., ummmm, I mean see me, LOL...

    JG

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