Hearing loss and other hearing issues is NOT a "rare" event with cisplatin, in fact, it is considered one of the two most common side-effects and any doctor saying otherwise is not being forthcoming.

I am not in the habit of posting material that cannot be backed up with data -- so here it is:

The RX drug page www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/cisplatin_ad.htm
writes:

"Ototoxicity - Ototoxicity has been observed in up to 31% of patients treated with a single dose of cisplatin 50 mg/m2, and is manifested by tinnitus and/or hearing loss in the high frequency range (4,000 to 8,000 Hz). Decreased ability to hear normal conversational tones may occur occasionally. Deafness after the initial dose of cisplatin has been reported rarely. Ototoxic effects may be more severe in children receiving cisplatin. Hearing loss can be unilateral or bilateral and tends to become more frequent and severe with repeated doses. Ototoxicity may be enhanced with prior or simultaneous cranial irradiation [note this]. It is unclear whether cisplatin induced ototoxicity is reversible. Ototoxic effects may be related to the peak plasma concentration of cisplatin. Careful monitoring of audiometry should be performed prior to initiation of therapy and prior to subsequent doses of cisplatin." (In the latter case, how often does this occur?)

A recent paper by Rademaker-Lahkari et al, 2006, J. of Clinical Oncology 24 (6) is "Relationship between cisplatin administration and development of ototoxicity"

They write "Cisplatin is the most ototoxic drug known..." and note that a mean incidence of hearing damage is about 33%. However, since cited rates varied so much, they looked at whether dose and even, timing of doses, had a role as well as other factors. Their conclusion was that weekly doses were les apt to cause hearing problems compared to every two-week doses. Anyone starting cisplatin therapy should take a look at their conclusions, as they give other risk factors which might make cisplatin not the best drug for some.

(The other major side effect is nephrotoxicity, with a rate of 28-36% with single dose of 50 mg/m2 and "renal toxicity becomes more prolonged and severe with repeated courses of the drug. Renal function must return to normal before another dose of cisplatin can be given." per RX web site above)

Gail