Hi Michael --

Actually, cisplatin hearing loss (primarily in upper registers) is greater than 1% -- but a lot depends on the dose. If it were the primary agent (mono-therapy) there is a much higher risk. Neurotoxicity (including hearing loss) occurs in about 85% of patients at doses over 300mg/m2. But at the dose I would be getting along with radiation, one rad onc said less than 10% chance of a problem. However Dr. Lee (who is the senior) felt it was greater than that for me as I already had auditory problems.

My hearing loss is in part due to simple aging -- men tend to lose upper registers as they age -- but also as a boy I had some serious ear infections which damaged my hearing. My brother who is younger had same problems, he is deafer than I am!

I will be getting carbo/taxol to -- would have liked to have entered an on-going trial for a new EGFR drug but it involves cisplatin and after some discussion, was recommended against it. I don't think Erbitux is available but
will check.

Good luck,
Barry