Hearing Loss: How to Navigate This Side Effect of Cancer Treatments
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- čas přidán 5. 08. 2024
- Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and certain medications, can sometimes lead to hearing loss or other auditory complications. In this video, we will explore the causes, symptoms, and management strategies for hearing loss resulting from cancer treatments.
1. Causes of Hearing Loss:
We'll discuss how different cancer treatments can potentially damage the delicate structures of the ear, leading to hearing loss. The video will highlight common treatment options associated with this side effect, including chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin, radiation therapy in the head and neck region, and targeted therapy medications.
2. Symptoms of Hearing Loss:
We'll delve into the signs and symptoms of hearing loss, including difficulties understanding conversations, muffled or distorted sounds, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and increased sensitivity to certain sounds. By identifying these symptoms early on, individuals can seek timely intervention and support.
3. Management Strategies:
Our video will provide practical strategies to manage and cope with hearing loss as a cancer treatment side effect. This may include seeking the help of audiologists and hearing specialists, considering assistive devices, such as hearing aids or cochlear implants, and exploring communication techniques to improve interactions with others.
4. Emotional Support and Education:
We'll emphasize the importance of emotional support and education surrounding hearing loss as a cancer treatment side effect. Recognizing the potential impact on an individual's quality of life, we'll discuss resources and support networks available to help patients and caregivers navigate this aspect of their cancer journey.
This video aims to raise awareness and provide helpful information about hearing loss as a side effect of cancer treatment. Whether you are a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, understanding the impact of hearing loss and learning practical strategies for managing it can help improve the overall well-being of those affected.
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You have been my rock as I went through treatment for my hpv throat cancer. God bless you and good luck
Wow! Thank you Sean! What a nice thing to say!
Lee
Thanks for your channel, it makes things easier for me as I begin to approach my treatments soon, chemo and radiation are in the near future, the most difficult part so far is having to tell my three sons what's going on how I got it hpv positive p16 tonsil cancer. My two oldest sons are in college now they seem to be taking it pretty well but my youngest son he's 15 just learning to drive and in high school he is scared, I try to relieve his anxiety as best we can. On a good note it's good to see them working hard saving the money getting good grades in college I know that no matter what they're going to be okay
Hi Michael,
That is a tough conversation to have with children. However it may be comforting for them, and for you to know that the treatment of HPV caused cancer seems to have a better remission or cure rate than head and neck cancers caused by chemical exposures or smoking.
Lee
www.mskcc.org/news/cancers-caused-hpv-respond-better-treatment-new-study-helps-explain-why
9 months out, started developing Tinnitus. Had 6 cisplatin 35 rads. Just hit me out of nowhere. Thanks for the videos.
Yeah, that Cisplatin can have some nasty side effects and it kind of seems random as to how long before they show up.
Lee
40 rounds of chemo 3 rounds of cisplatin for hpv tonsil cancer with one lymph node affected. Almost 7 months post treatment now. I do have hearing problems. Especially in places with lots , of poople or music i have issues filtering out the noises they all sound like the same level of noise. Your videos are really informative as you really do not get all the information associated with post treatment side effects. I lost 55 pounds even with a feeding tube due to lack of saliva production. I am hopeful that as time goes on i will have the saliva return as well as my taste buds.
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for the kind words. When I was telling my oncologist about the mucus build up in my throat at night was, "Yeah, we expected that." I have to admit I laughed when he said that. I suggested that maybe a checklist of possible side effects?
Lee
I can relate to this very much. The chemo really wiped out my top end (think cymbals on drums) so I hear in mid-range. Well, mid-range is where most sounds are so it becomes overwhelming in that there is no ability to discern that the upper range gives you. I tell people its like listening to a song on AM radio vs FM radio.
Almost 5 months post treatment now. The hearing loss on the top end of the scale started the first week and got worse the second round of cisplatin. A swtich to carboplatin for the third and final (along with 5FU?) didn't seem to have an affect. Understanding speech is harder, especially in crowds and echoing rooms where most sounds are mid-range, you get overwhelmed. Day to day its not so bad, except with voices in the upper range like my daughters. Tinnitus has arrived as a late complication which was a bit suprising. Most of the time I can ignore it in average social settings where my brain can "tune it out" so to speak. Other times, like right now, its every present. Its not annoying for me, it just is what it is. I can function but I'd prefer not to have it. As a good friend pointed out, I'm thankful to be here to have things to complain about.
It's been a late effect for me as well. The tinnitus started earlier this year and seems to fade in and out. Rooms with echo etc are very hard to hear in.
Lee
@@theregularguy141 DItto on the echo. Its all a cacophony of one sound to me. I'm sure its the same for you.
My original treatment plan was for 2 massive doses of cisplatin, one before my first dose of radiation and the second at the beginning of the 3rd week.
However the first dose damaged my hearing and gave me a screeching high pitch frequency in both ears, so the 2nd dose was broken down into 3 and given one a week for the last 3 weeks of radiation.
Just over 2yrs later I still have permanent buzzing/ringing in both ears. Occasionally it gives the ole high pitch screech from time to time.
Hearing test showed I’ve lost the high pitch end of my hearing and certain sounds.
If there’s other noises like music etc I struggle to hear what people are saying, or if they aren’t facing me or walking away.
There’s been no improvement over the past year, so I think it’s as good as it’s going to get now.
I don't have the screeching and everything has been late onset with me which I find odd. My tinnitus kind of fades in and out, (another oddity). I have found that I need to use CC on TV shows as everybody on TV seems to mumble a bit now.
Lee
I had my third chemotherapy radiation and the second week I started having ringing in my two ears. They come and go. I asked my doctor about it and they'll be sending me to get my ears tested.
What chemo drug is it? That ringing is not pleasant!
Lee
@@theregularguy141 Cysplatin
@@theregularguy141 cisplatin
The tinnitus levels are what I noticed the most. I am now the person in a social setting that goes huh? what did you say?? or constantly adjusting the position of your head to hear better. Whenever I get whiney about it I remember I'm still alive, a smirk appears and the defiance returns to never stop fighting. I guess I can learn sign language or get me one of those hearing horns they had in the early 1900's. 😊
LOL, Thats an awesome attitude and thanks to you, I am now looking on Ebay for an antique hearing horn with which to annoy the family.
Lee
I just finished 7 infusuins a Chemo and 35 Radiation treatment for Head and neck throatv cancer. My hearing wasent great before, yea its gotten worse. Wost thing for me though is my taste being all messed up. I can eat, can eat anything i want and swallow just nothing tastes right.
Hi Mick,
Jusy after treatment my tatse was messed as well. If slowly came back to around 75-80%, but it took about 8-9 months.
Lee
Good vid, fyi, thanks. I'm now at month 7 in recovery, still have these phantom pain from time to time in rear of jawline behind the lymph node that was affected. Also recently diagosed with something called rsd (reactive sympathetic dystrophy), which another doc (not my cancer doc, they act like it's a mystery, and imo don't want to spend much time with me to uncover it (since it's another body part, the sympathetic/parasympathetic system. 2nd and 3rd docs think this system was weakened during exposure to radiation and chemo.
so, question 1 is have you heard of this happening to any others?
question 2, do you know of a good group for support (to join for these types of discussions?)
Best, Kevin
Hi Kevin,
Thank you for the kind words! I have no heard of RSD, but will look into it. I'm not really sure where you are in the world, but here are some links.
Lee
www.ahns.info/
www.headandneck.org/
www.throatcancerfoundation.org/
Thanks Lee. One more for follow up. have you heard from any others or come across reviews from other hpv treated patients who experienced side effects from the chemo/radiation during first year of recovery? I'm in month 7 of recovery and starting to have weird ailments (like the rsd) and now kidney ailment. @@theregularguy141
I think I have some hearing loss although I onley had radiation 35 treatments. Sometime when someone talks to me I hear them but it does not penetrate in my brain I have to ask them to repeat. I was wondering if this is caused by radiation or age .I'm due for a CT next month I will ask the doc
I'm not sure of you had chemo as well, but sometimes the brain fog or chemo brain can also affect comprehension etc.
Lee
No I did not have chemo I refused as i saw what it did to my husband. He had cisplatin and I forgot the other one .Anyway a horrible experience to see. I am convinced that hearing loss is caused by radiation. Any updates on the lidocaine trials yet ?
@@user-oo5ny7qn1b Nothing new as of yet. I know the big international trial is underway in order to confirm the efficacy of the original trial in India.
Lee