| Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 56 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 56 | I experienced significant high frequency hearing loss from my first round of cisplatin. I am wondering how this was dealt with for those others who experienced it, and if anyone has any advice.
Ed H, NE Ohio SCC BOT with lymph node involvement, HPV+, diagnosed 7/12 Radiation and Cisplatin
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Im so sorry this has happened to you! Immediately discuss this with your medical oncologist. They need to change the chemo to another type. Do NOT get another dose of cisplatin. Usually they will switch a patient in this situation over to carboplatin (sp?).
I went back and reread your first posts. When I responded to your post on 8/13 and warned you about cisplatin and hearing loss. Make sure you have a long talk with your doctor so you are not given another dose.
Last edited by ChristineB; 09-01-2012 08:23 PM.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 | Hi Ed H What Christine said. Hearing loss is cumulative and dose dependent so it will get worse if you continue with cisplatin. Carboplatin (note correct spelling Christine  )is a commonly used alternative from the same family. Karen
Karen Love of Life to Alex T4N2M0 SCC Tonsil, BOT, R lymph nodes Dx March 2010 51yrs. Unresectable. HPV+ve Tx Chemo x 3+1 cycles(cisplatin,docetaxel,5FU)- complete May 31 Chemoradiation (IMRTx35 + weekly cisplatin) Finish Aug 27 Return to work 2 years on 3 years out Aug 27 2013 NED  Still underweight
| | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 | I mentioned to my MO that I had some hearing loss from a previous ear infection. He immediately changed from Cisplatin to Carboplatin. He has been working with these two for decades and felt there was little difference between them.
Because Cisplatin came out later, most doctors recommend that but both have been on the market for over thirty years.
Kelly Male 48, SCC (Soft Palet) Rt., Stage 1, T3n0m0, Dx, 8-09, Start IMRT 35 9-2-09 end 10-21-09 04-20-10 NED 8-11 recurrence, node rt. neck N2b 10-11 33 IMRT w/chemo wkly 3-12-12 PET - residual cancer 4-12 5 treatments with Cyberknife & Erbitux 6-19-12 Pet scan CLEAR 12-3-12 PET - CLEAR
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Yes do tell your MO ASAP. I remember mine saying that he would switch me to Carbo if I had ringing in my ears from the Cis but I didn't recognize the "ringing" until after my 3rd Cis so I do have permanent high freq hearing loss in both ears. I haven't gotten aids yet but maybe some day I will but it will be me kicking and screaming for sure!
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 56 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 56 | Thanks everyone. My doc wants to use half dose of cisplatin for this tx (my last chemo), says the half dose will prevent further hearing loss. He feels carboplatin is not as effective at reducing risk of recurrence. If anyone has any thoughts or info I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Ed H, NE Ohio SCC BOT with lymph node involvement, HPV+, diagnosed 7/12 Radiation and Cisplatin
| | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | Ed, that sounds sensible to me. Glad that you are so close to the end of your treatment! Maria
CG to husband - SCC Tonsil T1N2M0 HPV+ Never Smoker First symptoms 7/2010, DX 12/2010 TX 40 IRMT (1.8 gy) + 10 Cetuximab PET Scans 6/2011 + 3/2012 clear, 5 year physical exam clear; chest CT's clear of cancer. On thyroid pills. Life is good.
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | First off I'm not a doc of any kind...with that in mind and concidering that your HPV+ and you have already had 2 big bags of cis and that you already have experienced hearing loss I, as in my opinion only, would not opt for more cis of any volumne, absent convincing proof that carbo would not be just as effective.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Ed, if it were me, I would NOT allow that doctor to give me any more cisplatin, not even a half dose. If you have already suffered hearing loss it could make it worse. How can that doctor tell you it wont? That does NOT sound correct at all. If he insists you do the half dose I would ask him if he would be willing to stake his reputation on this and put it in writing that he is 100% certain by you taking the half dose of cisplatin it will not further your hearing loss. I would bet anything he wont step up and back his opinion with a letter. Carboplatin has been shown to work as well as cisplatin so I dont understand this doctors insistence on you continuing with cisplatin when it has already caused you problems.
Get your hearing checked to see how much of a loss you already have and then get it checked about a week after the 3rd dose. That is IF you really want to risk any more hearing by this guys promises. If he can guarantee you wont suffer any more loss only then should you allow any more cisplatin. remember, he works for YOU!
Be very careful!!!!! ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | DavidCPA, if you google 'head and neck cancer cisplatin carboplatin' you will find some oldish studies and retrospective analyses on this question. I have not sorted through them properly but they seem to infer that in some cases the cisplatin may be better. Maria
CG to husband - SCC Tonsil T1N2M0 HPV+ Never Smoker First symptoms 7/2010, DX 12/2010 TX 40 IRMT (1.8 gy) + 10 Cetuximab PET Scans 6/2011 + 3/2012 clear, 5 year physical exam clear; chest CT's clear of cancer. On thyroid pills. Life is good.
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