There’s nothing that’s good about cancer. Patients have to go through a very difficult time and some of the side effects of chemotherapy are often disregarded. But it’s essential to keep in mind that, for a great many cancer patients, there will be life after your disease. And you want that life to be as full and prosperous as possible.
Talking to your healthcare team about managing and reducing side effects is so important because of this. By discussing potential hearing loss, tinnitus, or balance issues that may develop from chemotherapy, for instance, you’ll be more ready for what happens next, and be in a better position to truly enjoy life after cancer.
Available cancer treatments
In the past couple of decades, significant developments in cancer treatment have been made. The development of some cancers can even be prevented with vaccines. But in general, doctors will utilize one or more of three different ways to battle this disease: radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery.
Each treatment option has its own unique strengths and drawbacks, and none of them are mutually exclusive. The best treatment course will be determined by your diagnosis, your prognosis, and your care team.
Do all cancer treatments cause hearing and balance problems? Well, every patient is different, but in general, these side effects are restricted to chemotherapy.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy kills cancer cells with a combination of strong chemicals. Because of its very successful track record, chemotherapy is often the primary treatment option for a wide array of cancers. But chemotherapy can cause some really uncomfortable side effects because these chemicals are so powerful. Here are a few of these side effects:
- Hearing loss
- Mouth sores
- Nausea
- Hair loss (including your nose hairs)
- Vomiting
- Tiredness and fatigue
Side effects of chemotherapy have a tendency to vary from person to person. The particular combination of chemicals also has a significant effect on the specific side effects. Most people are pretty well aware of some of these symptoms, like hair loss for example. But that’s not necessarily the case with chemotherapy-induced hearing loss.
Does chemo cause hearing loss?
Loss of hearing isn’t one of the more well known side effects of chemotherapy. But the truth is that chemotherapy can and does bring about hearing loss. Is hearing loss from chemo permanent? In many instances, yes.
So, what type of chemotherapy frequently comes with long-term hearing loss? In general, 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 numerous forms of cancers but is most often used to treat head, neck, and gynecological cancers.
Scientists believe that platinum-based chemotherapy chemicals attack and damage the little fragile stereocilia in the ears, but the precise cause-and-effect relationship is still not clear. This can cause hearing loss that is frequently irreversible.
Hearing loss is something you want to keep your eye on, even when you’re fighting cancer
Hearing loss might not seem like that much of a worry when you’re fighting cancer. But there are substantial reasons why your hearing health is relevant, even while you’re battling cancer:
- Hearing loss has been known to result in social isolation. This can exacerbate many different conditions. In other words, obtaining the appropriate treatment (or even purchasing the right groceries) can become harder when you’re feeling socially isolated.
- Tinnitus and balance problems can also be the outcome of chemo-induced hearing loss. So, now you’re thinking: hold on, does chemotherapy lead to tinnitus too? Unfortunately, yes. Tinnitus is often connected with balance issues which can also be a problem. You don’t want to fall down when you’re recovering from your chemotherapy treatment!
- Hearing loss can negatively affect your mental health, particularly if that hearing loss is untreated. Untreated hearing loss is closely related to increases in depression and anxiety. Battling cancer can, similarly, increase depression and anxiety, so you don’t want to make matters worse.
You’ll want to speak with your care team about minimizing other health concerns while you’re fighting cancer.
So what should you do?
You’re at the doctor’s constantly when you’re fighting cancer. But don’t allow that to stop you from setting up an appointment for a hearing test.
Here are a number of things that seeing a hearing specialist will help with:
- If you do experience hearing loss, it will be easier to get fast treatment.
- Become a patient of a hearing specialist. If you experience hearing loss, your hearing specialist will have a more extensive understanding of your needs, your health history, and what your hearing treatment can look like.
- Establish a baseline for your hearing. This will make it substantially easier to detect hearing loss in the future.
So, can hearing loss from chemo be reversed? Unfortunately, sensorineural hearing loss is irreversible, no matter the cause. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a treatment. Your hearing specialist will be able to help you treat and manage your hearing loss. You may require hearing aids or you may just need your hearing to be monitored.
It’s mostly frequencies in the higher range that go when your hearing loss is caused by chemo. It might not even have any impact on your day-to-day hearing.
Caring for your hearing is important
Taking good care of your hearing is crucial. Talk over any concerns you might have about how chemotherapy may impact your hearing with your care team. You might not be able to alter your treatment options, but at least you’ll be able to closely track your symptoms and treat them appropriately.
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.