Sorry Deb, I was answering the original question and I don't want to seem to second-guess you -- however I am not making that blanket statement, here's what is written on cisplatin drug effects:

"Another dose-dependent effect of cisplatin is ototoxicity. Again, it is a cumulative and irreversible side effect, that becomes more significant with irradiation therapy. The ototoxicity of cisplatin also appears to be most significant in children who may experience loss of balance along with hearing difficulties due to greater sensitivity to the drug. Initial symptoms include tinnitus (ringing in the ears), or some hearing loss or both. These effects usually decrease when the treatment ends, however, many patients experience irreversible hearing loss in the high frequency range (>4kHz). Therefore, audiograms are recommended every two or three cycles to monitor the condition of the inner ear."

Because my husband had existing high-end hearing loss (>4,000Hz) from ear infections as a child, neither his MO, RO or ENT wanted him to take cisplatin. They all said that their experience found carboplatin to do as well as cis- as a "radiosensitizer" which is what it is -- it is not the primary treatment, but an adjunct and enhancer of the primary treatment, the radiation.

As my husband said, why risk a permanent quality-of-life issue whe there is a suitable option?

I should add that Hopkins gave him a audiology test before and after treatment and there were no changes.

Gail