There’s nothing that’s good about cancer. As a result, patients receiving cancer treatment will in some cases feel compelled to disregard cancer treatment side effects, including hearing loss, as trivial. But for a large number of cancer survivors, there will be a life after cancer and that’s an essential thing to remember. And, of course, you want a very full and happy life!

This means it’s important to speak with your care team about minimizing and managing side effects caused by your treatment. You’ll be able to enjoy life after cancer more completely, for example, if you talk about possible balance and hearing problems that could occur post chemotherapy, with your care team.

Available cancer treatments

In the past 20 years, considerable developments in cancer treatment have been accomplished. The development of certain cancers can even be avoided with vaccines. But, generally speaking, there are still three standard ways that doctors will combat this serious disease: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

There are unique drawbacks and strengths to each of these, and sometimes, they’re used in tandem. Your care team will use your diagnosis and prognosis to determine the best course of treatment.

Do all cancer treatments cause hearing and balance problems? Normally, these side effects only accompany chemotherapy, but every patient is different.

What is chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a combination of treatments that use strong chemicals to destroy cancer cells. For a wide array of cancers, chemotherapy is the primary course of treatment because of its very successful track record. But because these chemicals are so strong, chemotherapy can produce some uncomfortable side effects. Here are several of these side effects:

Mouth sores
Fatigue and tiredness
Loss of hearing
Hair loss
Nausea
Vomiting

Every patient reacts to chemotherapy in their own way. Side effects might also vary based on the particular mix of chemicals used. Most individuals are pretty well aware of some of these symptoms, like hair loss for instance. But not so many people are aware of chemotherapy induced hearing loss.

Can hearing loss be brought about by chemotherapy?

Loss of hearing is not one of the more well known side effects of chemotherapy. But hearing loss can be a real side effect of chemotherapy. Is related hearing loss irreversible? In many cases, yes.

So, which chemotherapy often comes with long-term hearing loss? Generally speaking, hearing loss tends to be most common with platinum-based chemical protocols (known as cisplatin-based chemotherapy). These types of therapies are most commonly used to treat head, neck, and gynecological cancers, but they can be used for other cancers also.

Scientists aren’t really sure how the cause and effect works, but the basic thought is that platinum-based chemotherapy chemicals are particularly proficient at causing harm to the fragile hairs in your ear. Over time, this can trigger hearing loss, and that hearing loss is usually permanent.

Even if you’re fighting cancer, you should still keep your eye on hearing loss

When you’re fighting cancer, hearing loss may not feel like your most pressing concern. But there are substantial reasons why your hearing health is relevant, even while you’re battling cancer:

Social isolation is frequently the result of hearing loss. This can exacerbate lots of different conditions. In other words, receiving the appropriate treatment (or even buying the right groceries) can become more difficult when you are feeling socially separated.
Tinnitus and balance issues can also be the result of chemo-associated hearing loss. So, now you’re thinking: wait, does chemotherapy lead to tinnitus too? Regrettably, yes. This tinnitus and loss of balance can be an issue, too. When you’re recovering from chemotherapy, the last thing you need is to take a fall.
Hearing loss can negatively impact your mental health, especially if that hearing loss is untreated. Neglected hearing loss is closely associated with increases in depression and anxiety. Fighting cancer can, similarly, increase depression and anxiety, so you don’t want to make matters worse.

Decreasing 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?

You’re at the doctor’s a lot when you’re battling cancer. But it’s beneficial to add one more appointment to your list: make an appointment with a hearing specialist.

Here are several things that visiting a hearing specialist will help with:

If you do experience hearing loss, it will be easier to obtain fast treatment.
Establish a hearing baseline. This will make it considerably easier to identify hearing loss in the future.
Establish a relationship with 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.

So, can hearing loss from chemo be reversed? No matter the cause, sensorineural hearing loss has no cure, unfortunately. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be treated. Your hearing loss can be treated and managed with the assistance of your hearing specialist. This might mean simple monitoring or it may include a set of hearing aids.

It’s mostly frequencies in the higher register that go when your hearing loss is triggered by chemo. Your day-to-day hearing may not even really be effected.

Caring for your hearing is important

Paying attention to your hearing is crucial. If you have concerns about how chemotherapy may affect your hearing, talk to your care team. Your treatment might not be able to change but at least you’ll be better able to track your symptoms and to get more rapid treatment.

Hearing loss can be caused by chemotherapy. But if you consult your hearing specialist, they will help you make a plan that will help you stay in front of the symptoms.