A friend just mentioned "hyparacusis" and I had to google it. Hey, I learned something! Since my treatment, certain noises, like pots clanging together, have seemed way more shrill and disturbing than before. Well, that's a very good description of hyperacusis, which can happen due to nerve damage, and I believe that my limited Cisplatin treatments have left me with late-onset hyperacusis (something the medical oncologist never even mentioned as possible). In fact, late onset side effects were not mentioned at all. I suffered no initial side effects, so was signed off as not having had any. Then about six months later, numb feet, and now maybe some minor hearing damage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperacusis

And for those of you suffering with chemo-induced tinnitus, check this out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus_masker

And this:

http://www.simplynoise.com/

There are apps for iPhone/iPad/iPod now that generate various types of white noise that might be helpful.

Onward through the fog!

-Seth

Is numb feet a late onset side-effect on cisplatin? I have noticed my toes going a numb on occasion, but it it not all the time.

Hi Angelia,

I was told that "peripheral neuropathy" is a possible side-effect of Cisplatin. It's basically nerve damage that shows up in one's extremities such as feet and fingers and can manifest as tingling or numbness. Hearing loss/damage is also possible for the same reason. It's worth noting that radiation treatment can also do some damage to the nerves in the spine, but this, too, is hopefully temporary.

Peripheral neuropathy tends to show up in the extremities because these are the longest nerves. Some people have this reaction almost right away. In my case I only had three doses of Cisplatin, so a relatively low dose (although that dose is probably common on this site due to the type of cancer treatment represented here). I did not have any initial poor reaction so they "signed off" that I was okay with it. But months later I believe I developed some peripheral neuropathy in the soles of my feet - sort of a feeling as if the skin of my soles was "too thick". And now, ten months from treatment, I've realized I've had some hyperacusis, and maybe now some minor tinnitus showing up.

The neuropathy hopefully is temporary, as these nerves can regenerate themselves. I've been told to massage my feet - basically to do anything that encourages blood flow, as this will also encourage nerve regeneration. It's worth noting that my mother has peripheral neuropathy in her feet at 72, without any cancer treatment, so it may also be inherited. Or, in her case, a lifetime of exposure to ceramic glaze ingredients as an artisan may not have helped, either. Oh, and my father has tinnitus, but he's also a lifetime artisan/woodworker/builder, so has abused his hearing tremendously.

My medical oncologist didn't mention the possibility of late-onset side effects, but I have since seen several references to the possibility.

I guess these are relatively minor annoyances, but of course, we'd like to be as normal and healthy as possible!

I've recently started jogging and doing yoga. It's going well. I've never been a "runner" but it's a very easy way to get a cardio workout, if you start gently so you don't injure yourself.

Good luck!

-Seth

[quote=Stily1]Hi Angelia,

I was told that "peripheral neuropathy" is a possible side-effect of Cisplatin. It's basically nerve damage that shows up in one's extremities such as feet and fingers and can manifest as tingling or numbness. Hearing loss/damage is also possible for the same reason. It's worth noting that radiation treatment can also do some damage to the nerves in the spine, but this, too, is hopefully temporary.
Seth [/quote]

Both of those side effects happened to me. Hearing tests confirmed that I have trouble hearing sounds in the higher range and if I'm in a crowded room, I find it very hard to have a conversation because I can't hear everything that is being said to me. I was told that if I get worse or am frustrated, hearing aids are an option.

The neuropathy is annoying, but I do forget about it most of the time. I am a runner and it does feel weird when I run longer distances, but it doesn't keep me from doing it.

It is interesting that of all of the side effects I was told about, hearing loss was never mentioned until I brought it up halfway through my treatments. I was treated with cisplatin 3x.

Hi Mike,

I think it was just a fluke that they didn't mention the hearing loss. There are many potential side effects to these treatments, and everybody reacts uniquely. My big gripe was that the possibility of *late onset* side effects wasn't mentioned. My neuropathy and hearing concerns didn't come on until months post treatment, and caused me quite a lot of distress at the time.

I can say, however, that now, over a year out, these seem to have abated and for the most part I feel good. Dry-er mouth is annoying, and neck muscle spasm/cramping is annoying, but overall I feel I'm 95% back and pretty well off.

Cheers,

-Seth

Most of us bitch about not getting a complete informed consent briefing, and late side effects which only come up in 50% of the people can't be covered in detail with everyone since there are so many (you could write a book on just that subject). I have tons of collateral issues still today a decade out, that are getting worse as time passes. But I give my doctors a pass on not telling me every minor possibility of what might happen to me down the road. After all, what was I going to do, NOT have the radiation treatments because my mouth was going to go dry, or my face was going to lose movement on one side 8 years out etc. etc? Of course not. I would have still had the treatments, the alternative would have been that I wouldn't be here today.

Bottom line there is a very long list of possible side effects of all these treatments. Most of us are going to get some of them. Some of us are going to get most of them. But with few options for treatment, what are you going to do? We just learn to deal with them after the fact, and be thankful that we are part of the 50% that actually survives the process. Keeping that perspective makes dealing with it easier��.