Coping with cancer is horrible. Patients have to go through a very tough time and some of the side effects of chemotherapy are often dismissed. But it’s important to keep in mind that, for a lot of cancer patients, there is life after your disease. And you want that life to be as full and prosperous as possible.
This means it’s crucial to speak with your care team about minimizing and dealing with side effects caused by your treatment. By talking about potential hearing loss, tinnitus, or balance problems that may arise from chemotherapy, for example, you’ll be more ready for what comes next, and be in a better position to completely enjoy life after cancer.
Available cancer treatments
In the past 20 years, considerable developments in cancer treatment have been accomplished. The development of certain cancers can even be prevented with vaccines. But, generally speaking, there are still three typical ways that doctors will combat this serious disease: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Each treatment option has its own distinctive strengths and drawbacks, and none of them are mutually exclusive. Your care team will use your diagnosis and prognosis to establish the best course of treatment.
Do hearing and balance problems come with all cancer treatments? Usually, these side effects only accompany chemotherapy, but each patient is different.
Chemotherapy – what is it?
Chemotherapy kills cancer cells with a blend of strong chemicals. For a wide range of cancers, chemotherapy is the main course of treatment because of its very successful track record. But chemotherapy can cause some really uncomfortable side effects because these chemicals are so strong. Here are a few of these side effects:
- Vomiting
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Mouth sores
- Hair loss
- Hearing loss
- Nausea
Side effects of chemotherapy have a tendency to differ from person to person. Side effects may also change depending on the particular mix of chemicals used. Most individuals are pretty well aware of some of these symptoms, like hair loss for instance. But that’s not always the case with chemotherapy-caused hearing loss.
Does chemo bring about hearing loss?
Hearing loss isn’t the most well known chemotherapy side effect. But the truth is that chemotherapy can and does bring about hearing loss. Is related hearing loss irreversible? In many cases, yes.
So, which chemotherapy frequently comes with long-term hearing loss? Platinum-based chemical protocols (also known as cisplatin-based chemotherapy) are more commonly responsible for hearing loss side effects. These kinds of therapies are most commonly utilized to treat head, neck, and gynecological cancers, but they can be used for other cancers also.
Scientists think that platinum-based chemotherapy chemicals attack and damage the tiny delicate stereocilia in the ears, but the precise cause-and-effect relationship is still unclear. This can cause hearing loss that is often irreversible.
Even if you’re fighting cancer, you still need to keep your eye on hearing loss
When you’re battling cancer, hearing loss might not feel like your biggest concern. But there are substantial reasons why your hearing health is important, even in the midst of battling cancer:
- Hearing loss has been known to lead to social isolation. Lots of different conditions can be aggravated by this. In other words, getting the appropriate treatment (or even buying the right groceries) can become harder when you’re feeling socially isolated.
- Chemotherapy-caused hearing loss can also lead to balance issues and tinnitus. So can tinnitus also be caused by chemotherapy? Well, unfortunately, the answer is yes. Tinnitus is often associated with balance issues which can also be a problem. You don’t want to fall when you’re recovering from your chemotherapy treatment!
- Hearing loss, particularly neglected hearing loss, can negatively impact your mental health. Anxiety and depression are closely associated with neglected hearing loss. Someone who is battling cancer already has a heavy weight on their shoulders and the last thing they need is more anxiety and depression.
You’ll want to speak with your care team about decreasing other health issues while you’re fighting cancer.
So what should you do?
You’re at the doctor’s a lot when you’re fighting cancer. But don’t let that stop you from setting up an appointment for a hearing exam.
Seeing a hearing specialist will help you do a number of things:
- It will be easier to obtain fast treatment when you detect the signs or symptoms of hearing loss.
- Establish a baseline for your hearing. This will make it significantly easier to identify hearing loss in the future.
- Become a patient of a hearing specialist. Your hearing specialist will have a more detailed knowledge of the state of your hearing and its needs, if you do have hearing loss.
So, can hearing loss from chemo be reversed? Unfortunately, sensorineural hearing loss is permanent, regardless of the cause. But there are treatment solutions. Your hearing loss can be treated and managed with the help of your hearing specialist. This may mean simple monitoring or it may include a pair of hearing aids.
It should be mentioned, too, that the majority of chemotherapy-caused hearing loss normally affects the higher-range of hearing frequencies. Your day-to-day hearing might not even really be effected.
Your hearing health is important
Paying attention to your hearing is crucial. If you’re worried about how chemotherapy may affect your hearing, consult your care team. You may not be able to change treatment options, but at least you’ll be able to closely monitor your symptoms and treat them appropriately.
Chemotherapy can cause hearing loss. But with the right plan, and a little help from your hearing specialist, you’ll be able to find effective treatments that keep you hearing better longer.