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, including hearing loss, as insignificant. But for a large number of cancer survivors, there will be a life after cancer and that’s an essential thing to keep in mind. And, obviously, you want a very full and happy life!
This means it’s important to speak with your care team about reducing 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 occur after chemotherapy, with your care team.
Cancer treatment options
In the past 20 years, considerable developments in cancer treatment have been made. The development of some cancers can even be avoided with vaccines. But, generally speaking, there are still three basic ways that doctors will combat this serious disease: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
There are unique drawbacks and strengths to each of these, and in some cases, they’re used together. The best treatment course will be determined by your diagnosis, your prognosis, and your care team.
Do all cancer treatments lead to hearing and balance issues? Normally, these side effects only accompany chemotherapy, but each patient is different.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy kills cancer cells with a blend of strong chemicals. Because of its highly successful track record, chemotherapy is frequently the primary treatment option for a wide array of cancers. But because these chemicals are so powerful, chemotherapy can cause some unpleasant side effects. Here are a few of these side effects:
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Vomiting
- Mouth sores
- Nausea
- Loss of hearing
- Hair loss (including your nose hairs)
Every patient responds to chemotherapy in their own way. The particular mix of chemicals also has a significant impact on the specific side effects. Some of these side effects tend to be fairly visible and well known (hair loss, for example). But that isn’t necessarily the case with chemotherapy-caused hearing loss.
Does chemo bring about hearing loss?
Hearing loss isn’t the most well recognized chemotherapy side effect. But hearing loss can be a real side effect of chemotherapy. Is related hearing loss irreversible? The answer is often yes.
So is there a particular type of chemo that is more likely to result in hearing loss? Generally speaking, hearing loss tends to be most prevalent with platinum-based chemical protocols (known as cisplatin-based chemotherapy). This type of therapy can be used on various kinds 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 general sense is that platinum-based chemotherapy chemicals are particularly skilled at causing harm to the fragile hairs in your ear. This can cause hearing loss that is often irreversible.
Even if you’re battling cancer, you should still pay attention to hearing loss
Hearing loss may not seem like that much of an issue when you’re battling cancer. But even when you’re coping with cancer, there are considerable reasons why your hearing health is relevant:
- Hearing loss has been known to result in social isolation. Lots of different conditions can be exacerbated by this. In other words, obtaining the correct treatment (or even purchasing the right groceries) can become harder when you are feeling socially separated.
- Hearing loss, especially neglected hearing loss, can negatively affect your mental health. Anxiety and depression are closely linked to neglected hearing loss. Battling cancer can, similarly, increase anxiety and depression, so you don’t want to make matters worse.
- Chemotherapy-caused hearing loss can also lead to balance problems and tinnitus. So can tinnitus also be caused by chemotherapy? Well, unfortunately, the answer is yes. Tinnitus is frequently associated with balance issues which can also be an issue. You don’t want to fall when you’re recuperating from your chemotherapy treatment!
Minimizing 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.
What’s the solution?
When you’re fighting cancer, your life becomes never-ending doctor’s appointments. But it’s worthwhile to add one more appointment to your list: schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist.
Here are a number of things that visiting a hearing specialist will help with:
- It will be easier to obtain prompt treatment when you experience the signs or symptoms of hearing loss.
- Set a hearing baseline. This will make it significantly easier to recognize hearing loss in the future.
- Establish a relationship with a hearing professional. If you experience hearing loss, your hearing specialist will have a more in depth understanding of your needs, your health history, and what your hearing treatment can look like.
So if you get hearing loss from chemo, can it be reversed? No matter the cause, sensorineural hearing loss has no cure, sadly. But there are treatment options. Your hearing loss can be treated and managed with the assistance of your hearing specialist. This may mean basic monitoring or it might include a set of hearing aids.
It should be mentioned, too, that the majority of chemotherapy-caused hearing loss usually impacts the higher-range of hearing frequencies. It might not even have any impact on your day-to-day hearing.
Your hearing health is important
It’s essential to pay attention to your hearing health. If you have concerns about how chemotherapy may impact your hearing, consult your care team. Your treatment might not be able to change but at least you’ll be better able to keep an eye on your symptoms and to get faster treatment.
Chemotherapy can trigger hearing loss. But with the correct plan, and a little help from your hearing specialist, you’ll be able to get effective treatments that keep you hearing better longer.