For millions of people around the world, chemotherapy has become an invaluable tool for combating cancer, many autoimmune diseases, and even some blood disorders. While this critical tool has definitely improved the lives of many, this type of treatment carries various side effects.
One of the most overlooked of these, hearing loss, affects more than half of those treated with chemotherapy for common cancers like breast, lung, and gynecological. Let’s explore the connection between hearing loss and the ototoxic side effects of chemotherapy medications.
Understanding Chemotherapy and Its Side Effects
How Chemotherapy Works
First attributed to German scientist Paul Ehrlich in the early 20th century, chemotherapy is the use of chemicals to treat stubborn infectious diseases that don’t typically respond to other treatments. This course of treatment fights cancers and diseases by targeting and destroying rapidly growing cells within the body.
Unfortunately, in the course of killing these cells, chemotherapy also harms many healthy cells, causing the nausea typically associated with this treatment.
Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Because destroying all of the cancerous cells in a person’s body is so important, chemotherapy often also affects adjacent cells and tissues. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for cancer patients to also suffer other conditions like nausea, hair loss, fatigue, and even hearing loss.
What’s the Connection Between Chemotherapy and Hearing Loss?
One of the terms commonly used when discussing medication-related hearing loss is ototoxicity. Broadly, it refers to any damage to the inner ear caused by these medications that can cause hearing loss or balance disorders.
Among the many medications used for chemotherapy, cisplatin and carboplatin are most commonly the cause of hearing loss, as they can damage and weaken the tiny hairs within the inner ear. This can lead to long-term or permanent hearing loss because this type of damage to the cells and structures of the ear cannot typically be repaired.
How Chemotherapy Affects Hearing
When we look more closely at how these medications can cause all of these side effects, what we see is large swaths of damage affecting some of the more delicate parts of the body. Chemotherapy drugs in particular are well-known for causing oxidative stress and inflammation within the inner ear which, when sufficiently severe, can lead to permanent damage.
Of these ototoxic medications, cisplatin is one of the most commonly used and most frequently linked to causing hearing loss. Especially at higher frequencies, the damage these medications can wreak over time to your hearing can often be irreparable. If not addressed early, it can make it difficult to understand speech and pick up on environmental cues that may impact your quality of life.
Hearing Loss Symptoms Linked to Chemotherapy
Hearing loss linked to chemotherapy typically progresses with treatment. In the early stages, patients may develop tinnitus (a ringing of the ears), but other symptoms might include difficulty hearing high-pitched noises or a feeling of “fullness” in the ears. Early detection and treatment can be critical for managing these symptoms and minimizing permanent damage.
Like other forms of hearing loss, if these symptoms aren’t identified and addressed early, the effects can worsen over time, impacting a person’s ability to fully enjoy and participate in the world around them.
Managing Hearing Loss
Regular Hearing Tests Are Important
For many, hearing loss is a progressive disorder meaning the symptoms often creep up over time, getting worse until it begins impacting daily life. While regular hearing assessments are encouraged for all adults, those undergoing cancer treatment should be especially vigilant. By working with an Audiologist like the experts at Associated Hearing, patients are able to identify and monitor any changes in hearing.
Through various tests like audiograms, our team can evaluate a person’s hearing function, and if loss or damage is detected, recommend appropriate treatments to keep temporary symptoms from becoming permanent afflictions.
Preventing Hearing Loss While on Chemotherapy
As an inherently destructive treatment, it’s not always possible to avoid damage while undergoing chemotherapy. However, there are strategies and things a person can do to minimize or avoid long-term impact to their hearing while in treatment. Working closely with our team of Audiologists can help you monitor and track subtle changes throughout treatment.
With your doctor, we work to craft personalized treatment plans that might include various therapies or adjusting the dosages of your medications. Other interventions might include the use of hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other assistive devices.
Chemotherapy and Hearing Health
While discussing chemotherapy and hearing loss, it’s crucial to understand that not all chemotherapy drugs carry the same risk of causing hearing loss. Platinum-based medications like cisplatin and carboplatin are well-known to carry a higher risk of ototoxicity. If you are concerned about how chemotherapy might be affecting your hearing, you should consult with your doctor to better understand the risks specific to their treatment plan.
The impact of chemotherapy on hearing isn’t just limited to adults. Children undergoing cancer treatment are particularly vulnerable to hearing loss. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology revealed that up to 60% of children treated with cisplatin experienced some degree of hearing loss. This underscores the importance of regular hearing exams throughout chemotherapy.
Researchers are continuously exploring new avenues to prevent many side effects of cancer treatment such as hearing loss. Some patients may even consider alternative cancer therapies to avoid damaging their hearing. It’s become a delicate dance for doctors who want to offset the side effects of many of these medications with the goals of the therapy.
Drug-related hearing loss also differs from age-related types in several key ways. For many, the side effects begin with impacts to their high frequency hearing and can progress quickly from there. It can also affect individuals at any age and can often come with bouts of tinnitus or balance issues.
While lifestyle changes can’t entirely prevent chemotherapy-induced hearing loss, maintaining good hearing health can help the body cope better throughout treatment. It’s important to remember that every patient’s journey through chemotherapy is unique. Taking a proactive approach to hearing health during cancer treatment can greatly enhance your overall health and wellbeing.
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Chemotherapy has become an awesome agent against the damaging effects of cancer, but it’s not without its casualties. Chemotherapy can cause hearing loss, but with early detection and treatment, permanent damage can be lessened or avoided. Regular hearing exams before and during treatment can help pinpoint issues early, allowing for quick and timely treatment.
At Associated Hearing, we’re experts in all forms of ear care, including Audiology for cancer patients. If you or someone you love is facing a cancer diagnosis, schedule a hearing test today to protect your hearing health both during and after treatment.