Cesplatin and hearing loss

Doug Fight1234
Doug Fight1234 Member Posts: 6
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I completed Radiation 35 treatments and 3 chemo cesplatin on Sept 1st for HPV.   Since then I have loss a lot of hearing probably left with 20 percent and also have ringing In my ears.  Has anyone experience this and gained hearing back?  I am hoping since only a month ago I will improve.  If anyone has a positive story I would love to hear about it, to give me hope.  Thank you.

Comments

  • swopoe
    swopoe Member Posts: 492
    edited September 2017 #2
    My husband had ringing in his

    My husband had ringing in his ears from cisplatin. But it did go away. His ears are completely fine now. (18 months post treatment)

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    #3
    Hearing loss

    I had a similar experience with Cisplatin treatment, 5 years ago. I had a ~50% loss, and didn’t have the last Cisplatin cycle dosed, because of that.

    Unfortunately this hasn’t recovered, it actually got slightly worse, because of the added long term radiation effects.

     

    I am using hearing aids that help quite a bit. These are very expensive though, for the higher quality you’d have to spend around 5-6 K, unless your insurance covers this. There are cheaper versions as well, but not worth it.

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,771 Member
    #4
    Fairly common

    As you read some improvement can happen, sometimes not. The main take away for all those undergoing treatment is be very aware of any ringing or hearing issues. The MO needs to know ASAP and will adjust the schedule to stop any damage.

  • dtalbot1
    dtalbot1 Member Posts: 5
    #5
    Still ringing

    Had 3 doses of Cisplatin . Have not notice any hearing loss but my ears are ringing loud and clear. 15 months post treatment.

  • ManOfSteelMan
    ManOfSteelMan Member Posts: 13
    #6
    Two years post Cisplatin and

    Two years post Cisplatin and my hearing loss has not returned. From what I understand, there are little hairs inside that determine frequency. Once those are damaged they do not regrow. I wear hearing aids now.

  • MGC
    MGC Member Posts: 72 Member
    #7
    Hearing Loss

    I also had only 2 of the proposed 3 Cisplatin treatments due to hearing loss. Additionally, I also got Tinnitus as a result. I am now over 7 years post treatment and my hearing, nor my Tinnitus has improved. The good news is I never had any issues with being sick from the chemo during treatment and I am still here. 

     

  • MissBlueEyes4Life
    MissBlueEyes4Life Member Posts: 35
    #8
    No hearing loss for me but I

    No hearing loss for me but I am having issues with fluid in my wars which can cause hearing to be as if you were plugging your ears. Got tubes helped alot.  Although they told me radiation caused this. Hearing loss is one side effect of cisplatin unfortunately 

  • JBBW
    JBBW Member Posts: 30
    #9
    Well - that explains it...

    I thought it was just really quiet here in the office since I started working full time again.  I had cisplatin.  Maybe hearing loss is just making it easier to ignore people.

  • grace2017
    grace2017 Member Posts: 28
    edited December 2017 #10
    Hearing loss question

    My husband has had three Cisplatin treatments and is at 11/33 radiation treatments.  Just yesterday he started having kind of a static-like sound in one of his ears, the ear on the same side as his radiation treatment.  He describes it as not a ringing, but a background sound, maybe like you would hear mid-summer with the crickets/locusts.  Does this sound like a warning sign that he may be starting to experience hearing loss?  We were told to be on the lookout for the ringing, but I thought I'd ask here what you all think.  His next treatment is four days away, so we have some time to check in with the doctors before then.  Any input is appreciated.  He would like to continue the chemo to help with the overall treatment picture, but not at the expense of his hearing.  Have any of you switched to another chemo partway through treatment to avoid Cisplatin?  Thanks!

  • OKCnative
    OKCnative Member Posts: 326 Member
    #11
    I was tested prior to

    I was tested prior to treatment and my hearing was very good (minus a certain pitch frequency in my gun shooting ear). Chemo doc told me I could get tested again as treatment progressed but said he didn't rely on the tests to determine hearing loss as they are too subjective. He said he'd rely on me telling him. I experienced ringing on occasion that would last from minutes to hours. It was pretty easy to ignore. 2.5 months post treatment and haven't had ringing since treatment ended and I've suffered no hearing loss. I have heard from many that while the ringing can completely go away that often the hearing loss is permanent but can often be overcome with discreet hearing aids. Knowing that, I didn't hesistate to get the chemo.

  • Dolphinswae
    Dolphinswae Member Posts: 6 Member
    #12
    Grace 2017

    You need to report this asap. I am 2 1/2 month out of treatment. On first Cisplatin chemo I had a little bit of white noise. No one ever told me to report this. On the second treatment, the white noise and clicking got worse. I finished treatment almost three months ago and still have the same amount of white noise, probably permanent damage. The noise is day and night 24/7. It may get better but more than likely it'll stay.

  • grace2017
    grace2017 Member Posts: 28
    edited December 2017 #13
    Thanks for your replies

    Thanks for weighing in and I'm sorry Dolphinswae - that really stinks that you were not warned of the major side effect potential. Praying your white noise will lessen over time.

    We talked to the doctor about the hearing thing and they decided they will keep an eye on it, but to continue forward with Cisplatin for now - that the benefit Cisplatin offers is worth the risk of hearing damage at this point.  No one here needs to be told this whole cancer thing is hard.   

    Making progress, have done 4/7 Cisplatin and 15/33 rads.  Mucous issues are kicking in right on cue.  I'm thankful for this board for the advice and previous threads. I'm combing them for tips as we go along.  Prayers help immensely too! 

  • AndrewP16nose
    AndrewP16nose Member Posts: 23 Member
    #14
    Lost 30 decibels with 2 cisplatins

    I was test prior to cisplatin and could only handle 2 doses because I felt so disgusting I couldn't face the last dose. I lost 30 decibels of hearing from start to finish and I'm pretty close to needing hearing aides. However sometimes the hearing loss isn't due to the chemo but you can get "glue ear"- fluid in the middle ear behind the ear drum and this can clear with time. I got this as well and it took 6 months for the fluid to clear- only to then find the cisplatin and caused an amount of deafness.

  • tbret
    tbret Member Posts: 71 Member
    #15
    Cisplatin or Aerosmith?

    I had Tinnitus before my treatments.  It got much, much, much worse.  At one point during treatment I thought "I can't live like this!."

    Fortunately the worst of it was episodic and short-lived.  After treatment ended the tinnitus went back to "normal for me." 

    I experienced a lot of high frequency hearing loss in my right ear.  It was as though it was "plugged."  That has improved a lot, although I never got my full high frequency hearing back (or haven't yet).   I have been told to expect whatever loss I am experiencing now to be permanent.

    Cisplatin is nasty stuff.

    On the other hand - I'm still here to complain about it.

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