Coping with cancer is awful. Patients have to go through a very hard time and some of the side effects of chemotherapy are often disregarded. But for a great number of cancer survivors, there will be a life after cancer and that’s an essential thing to remember. And, obviously, you want a really full and happy life!
This means it’s important to talk to your care team about decreasing and managing side effects caused by your treatment. You’ll be able to enjoy life after cancer more fully, for instance, if you discuss potential balance and hearing problems that could arise post chemotherapy, with your care team.
Available cancer treatments
Cancer treatment has advanced significantly in the past 20 years. There are even some vaccines that can prevent the development of certain cancers in the first place! But, broadly speaking, there are still three standard ways that doctors will combat this serious disease: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Each treatment method 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 issues? Usually, these side effects only accompany chemotherapy, but every 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 produce some very uncomfortable side effects because these chemicals are so strong. Those side effects can include:
- Hair loss (including your nose hairs)
- Hearing loss
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sores in the mouth
Every patient responds to chemotherapy in their own way. Side effects may also change depending on the specific combination of chemicals used. Some of these side effects are often fairly visible and well known (hair loss, for instance). But not so many individuals are aware of chemotherapy induced hearing loss.
Can hearing loss be brought about by chemotherapy?
Loss of hearing isn’t one of the more well known side effects of chemotherapy. But hearing loss can be a real side effect of chemotherapy. Is chemo-induced hearing loss irreversible? In many cases, yes.
So, which chemotherapy frequently comes with long-term hearing loss? Generally speaking, hearing loss tends to be most prevalent with platinum-based chemical protocols (called cisplatin-based chemotherapy). This type of therapy can be used on various kinds of cancers but is most frequently used to treat head, neck, and gynecological cancers.
Scientists believe that platinum-based chemotherapy chemicals attack and damage the tiny delicate stereocilia in the ears, but the exact cause-and-effect relationship is still unclear. This can trigger hearing loss that is frequently irreversible.
Even if you’re battling cancer, you should still pay attention to hearing loss
Hearing loss might not seem like that much of an issue when you’re combating cancer. But even when you’re dealing with cancer, there are significant reasons why your hearing health is important:
- Tinnitus and balance issues can also be the outcome of chemo-associated hearing loss. So can tinnitus also be triggered by chemotherapy? Well, unfortunately, the answer is yes. This tinnitus and loss of balance can be an issue, too. You don’t want to fall down when you’re recovering from your chemotherapy treatment!
- Social isolation is often the result of hearing loss. Many different conditions can be exacerbated by this. If you’re feeling isolated socially, it can become laborious to do everyday activities, especially getting appropriate treatment.
- Hearing loss can negatively affect your mental health, particularly if that hearing loss is neglected. Anxiety and depression are closely linked to untreated hearing loss. Someone who is fighting cancer already has a heavy weight on their shoulders and the last thing they need is added anxiety and depression.
You’ll want to speak with your care team about minimizing other health concerns while you’re fighting cancer.
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: make an appointment with a hearing specialist.
Here are a number of things that seeing a hearing specialist will help with:
- If you do detect 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 picture of your needs, your health history, and what your hearing treatment should be.
- Set a baseline for your hearing. This will make it considerably easier to recognize hearing loss in the future.
So, can hearing loss as a result of chemo be reversed? Regardless of the cause, sensorineural hearing loss has no cure, unfortunately. But there are treatment solutions. Your hearing loss can be treated and managed with the help of your hearing specialist. You might require hearing aids or you may simply need your hearing to be tracked.
It’s mostly frequencies in the higher register that go when your hearing loss is due to chemo. Your day-to-day hearing might not even really be effected.
Caring for your hearing is important
It’s critical to take care of your hearing health. Discuss any concerns you may have about how chemotherapy could affect your hearing with 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 accordingly.
Hearing loss can be caused by chemotherapy. But if you talk to your hearing specialist, they will help you develop a plan that will help you get in front of the symptoms.
