There’s not much that’s good about cancer. As a result, patients receiving cancer treatment will sometimes feel compelled to dismiss cancer treatment side effects–such as hearing loss–as trivial. But it’s critical to remember that, for a great many 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 important to talk to your care team about minimizing and managing side effects caused by your treatment. By talking about possible hearing loss, tinnitus, or balance issues that may arise from chemotherapy, for example, you’ll be better prepared for what comes next–and be in a better position to fully enjoy life after cancer.
Cancer treatment options
Cancer treatment has advanced considerably in the past couple of decades. (There are even some vaccines that can prevent the development of some cancers in the first place!) But, broadly speaking, there are still three typical ways that doctors will combat this serious disease: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Each treatment option has its own unique strengths and drawbacks–and none of them are mutually exclusive. The best treatment course will be guided by your diagnosis, your prognosis, and your care team.
Do all cancer treatments cause hearing and balance issues? Well, every patient is different–but in general, these side effects are limited to chemotherapy.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a mixture of treatments that use strong chemicals to kill cancer cells. Because of its highly successful track record, chemotherapy is often the primary treatment option for a wide variety of cancers. But because these chemicals are so strong, chemotherapy can lead to some uncomfortable side effects. Those side effects can include:
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Sores in the mouth
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Hair loss (including your nose hairs)
- Hearing loss
- And more
Side effects of chemotherapy tend to vary from person to person. They may also change based on the particular combination of chemicals used. Some of these side effects tend to be pretty visible and well known (hair loss, for example). But that’s not necessarily the case with chemotherapy-caused hearing loss.
Does chemo cause hearing loss?
Hearing loss is not the most well known chemotherapy side effect. But the reality is that chemotherapy can and does cause hearing loss. Is hearing loss from chemo permanent? In many cases, yes.
So, which chemotherapy is often seen with long-term hearing loss? In general, hearing loss tends to be most common with platinum-based chemical protocols (known as cisplatin-based chemotherapy). These types of therapies are most often used to treat head, neck, and gynecological cancers–but they can be used for other cancers as well.
Scientists aren’t exactly sure how the cause and effect works, but the general sense is that platinum-based chemotherapy chemicals are especially adept at causing damage to the delicate hairs in your ear. Over time, this can cause hearing loss–and that hearing loss tends to be permanent.
Hearing loss is something you want to pay attention to, even when you’re fighting cancer
When you’re fighting cancer, hearing loss may not seem like your biggest concern. But there are significant reasons why your hearing health is important, even in the midsts of battling cancer:
- Hearing loss has been known to cause social isolation. This can exacerbate many different conditions. In other words, receiving the appropriate treatment (or even purchasing the right groceries) can become harder when you are feeling socially isolated.
- Hearing loss can negatively impact your mental health, especially if that hearing loss is untreated. Untreated hearing loss is closely associated with increases in depression and anxiety. Fighting cancer can, similarly, increase depression and anxiety–and so you don’t want to add more fuel to that fire.
- Chemotherapy-caused hearing loss can also lead to balance issues and tinnitus. So, now you’re thinking: wait, does chemotherapy cause tinnitus too? Unfortunately, yes. This tinnitus and loss of balance can be an issue, too. You don’t want to fall when you’re recovering from your chemotherapy treatment!
Minimizing other health concerns while you’re fighting cancer will likely be a priority–and something you’ll want to talk to your care team about.
So what should you do?
When you’re fighting cancer, your life becomes a laundry list of doctor’s appointments. But it’s important to add one more appointment to your list: schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist.
Visiting a hearing specialist will help you do several things:
- Set a baseline for your hearing. This will make it significantly easier to detect hearing loss in the future.
- Establish a relationship with your hearing professional. If you experience hearing loss, your hearing specialist will have a more comprehensive picture of your needs, your health history, and what your hearing treatment can look like.
- It will be easier to receive prompt treatment when you notice the signs or symptoms of hearing loss.
So, can hearing loss from chemo be reversed? Unfortunately, sensorineural hearing loss is permanent, no matter the cause. So there isn’t a cure for hearing loss. 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. This could mean simple monitoring or it might include a pair of hearing aids.
(It should be noted, too, that most chemotherapy-caused hearing loss mostly impacts the higher-range of hearing frequencies. It may not necessarily have any impact on your day-to-day hearing.)
Your hearing health is important
It’s critical to take care of your hearing health. If you have concerns about how chemotherapy might impact your hearing, talk to 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.
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.
Want to get a baseline hearing test near you? Search for a qualified provider