hearing

Hi Alan

my husband has his last treatment tomorrow. Hopefully this offers some reassurance as he has had no issues with tinnitus nor loss of hearing.

best of luck with your treatment

jackie 

thanks Jackie

Alan, it's very much an individual thing. There is not doubt that Cisplatin is ototoxic but many folk get away with no problems whatsoever. If you develop any tinnitus you should tell your radiographers. The chemo can be changed to Carboplatin ,which causes less damage, or abandoned entirely. Chemo therapy adds around 5% to your chances of cure. The main event is the RT. There are a few members here who didn't complete the schedule and they have recovered very well.

ok thanks . I asked a nurse the relationship or why the link between the 2 treatments and she replied radio 80percent and the chemo 20 percent just for extra belt and braces.

Hi Alan, I had the exact same treatment as you are having, I already had mild tinnitus, before treatment. I have to say my hearing wasn't effected, and my tinnitus is much the same as it was. Maybe it effects people in different ways. All the best with your treatment.

Regards Ray.

Alanl said:

ok thanks . I asked a nurse the relationship or why the link between the 2 treatments and she replied radio 80percent and the chemo 20 percent just for extra belt and braces.

The figures oft quoted here are 92% to 95% and 8% to 5%  which are a little more optimistic than the ones you have

These are for head and neck cancer. The figures are different for other cancers

I had Cisplatin around nine years ago (two of three planned) along with 35 RT and my hearing was certainly affected but I live with it quite happily now. They did a base-line hearing test before treatment and said my hearing was excellent for my age (53 at the time) so much so that despite the loss the test post-treatment my hearing was still within "normal" range.

I do have tinnitus but I only hear it when I think about it....so I can hear it now...but 99.9% of the time my brain tunes it out so not a problem.

The other thing is that music (important to me) sounded different, almost like I was listening to a cover band rather than the original artist, but I quickly got over that.

And as Dani has said, many (like me) don't do the whole chemo course for various reasons, and get through fine.

Hi Alan  I had  no issues with cisplatin I has 2 of a planned 3 x10 hour sessions. Of course it’s a possible side eggs t but I was monitored on each session and was told at the slightest sign if hearing g issues I would be changed or take. 
off cisplatin and out in carbo platin. I didn’t have my last chemo as my visible lump in neck has gone. 
Chemos as Dani says adds around 5% to the overall treatment sucess it’s your decision they can’t make you have it. 
Hazel xx

Hello Alani, I had exactly the same treatment ending in November.  I had a few days being hard of hearing before Christmas which was worrying but it cleared up and my hearing is fine now, no tinnitus either. I hope that helps. Good luck. 

Hi Alan,

i had 2 chemo plus 30 rt. I think its individual thing, I didn’t have any issues. Good luck  

marta x