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chemotherapy related hearing loss

bfp9548
bfp9548 CSN Member Posts: 28
edited March 2014 in Lung Cancer #1
I was diagnosed with 1B adenocarcinoma in January, 2010. I had a left upper lobe lobecotomy. My oncologist recommends 4 treaments of chemotherapy, 3 weeks apart. After two doses of Cisplatin I have been diagnosed with moderate sensory neural hearing loss. My oncologist says I cannot have any more Cisplatin, but wants me to continue chemo. He wants to change the drug from Cisplatin to Taxol. My research suggests that this drug has the same risk of hearing loss. My oncologist is telling me that my hearing will probably return in 3-4 months, but my research suggest that this type of hearing loss is usually irreversable. Has anyone had an experience similar to this one?
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Comments

  • pkaz53
    pkaz53 CSN Member Posts: 84
    #2
    hearing loss
    I was given chemo (cisplatin and etoposide)in 2003,as part of my treatment for sclc. I immediately noticed that I was having problems with my hearing my oncologist said it was from the chemo --the cancer had to be treated aggressively so we continued with treatment 4 rounds of chemo in combinatin with radiation to chest twice daily for 30 then 15 treatments of pci to the brain ---It's 6yrs later my hearing loss has not returned (I was told by a hearing specialist that the hair nerves inside my ears were affected)--I have no regrets I feel lucky to still be here ....
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  • bfp9548
    bfp9548 CSN Member Posts: 28
    #3
    pkaz53 said:

    hearing loss
    I was given chemo (cisplatin and etoposide)in 2003,as part of my treatment for sclc. I immediately noticed that I was having problems with my hearing my oncologist said it was from the chemo --the cancer had to be treated aggressively so we continued with treatment 4 rounds of chemo in combinatin with radiation to chest twice daily for 30 then 15 treatments of pci to the brain ---It's 6yrs later my hearing loss has not returned (I was told by a hearing specialist that the hair nerves inside my ears were affected)--I have no regrets I feel lucky to still be here ....

    hearing loss
    Thank you for sharing your experience. I have been told the same thing by a hearing specialist about the hairs in my ears. So far my chemotherapy has been considered adjuvant treatment and my surgery was considered curative. At this point we have decided to stop chemotherapy due to the severity of my side effects. This has been a very difficult decision to make and I guess I will only find out if it was the correct decision if my cancer returns. I hope that you continue to do well and that I can be in your position in the future with no regrets.
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  • ms.sunshine
    ms.sunshine CSN Member Posts: 707 Member
    #4
    Hearing no, but I noticed my
    Hearing no, but I noticed my vision has gotten worse.
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  • bfp9548
    bfp9548 CSN Member Posts: 28
    #5
    ms.sunshine said:

    Hearing no, but I noticed my
    Hearing no, but I noticed my vision has gotten worse.

    vision
    Thank goodness I had no vision changes to go along with my hearing loss. I think my hearing is improving, but the doctor seems to think that I am just adapting. We'll see what happens.
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  • gkukurin
    gkukurin CSN Member Posts: 9
    #6
    bfp9548 said:

    vision
    Thank goodness I had no vision changes to go along with my hearing loss. I think my hearing is improving, but the doctor seems to think that I am just adapting. We'll see what happens.

    Hearing loss
    Neuropathy, including the nerve associated with hearing, is often a side effect of chemo, talk to your doctor to see if it is OK to take the dietary supplement glutamine.

    It is a simple amino acid that a few studies have shown to reverse chemotherapy related neuropathy. It should not interfere with your chemo, but ask your doc about it.

    May help with the nerve damage in your ear
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