Since completing my radiation and chemo for SQC cancer at the base of my tongue 3 weeks ago, I have recently noticed that I have a continuous humming sound in my ears. The Doctor called it Tinnitus and said it is a possible side effect of the chemo. I had a hearing test done and seem to have also lost my high pitch hearing as well. Unfortunately he said there is nothing that can be done for the humming sound, but they say the high pitch hearing problem may be corrected by a hearing aid. Have any of you experienced this problem and if so did it go away or what did you do about it? Thanks for your comments.

Hi Terry,

I also have constant humming in my ears and my ENT said the same thing, that it is a possible side effect of the chemo (cisplatin) that I had. He, too, said that there is nothing that can be done. I just hit my 1 year mark since completing treatments and the humming is still there. I've sort of gotten use to it except those times when it's really loud. I just wish it would start playing a different tune!

Take care,

Nancy

I had my last radation April 28, 2003 and no chemo but I have very hard wax in my ears. They said it is from the radation and I have to go every two to three months to get it cleaned out.
Mary Lee

Hello everyone, this to is happening to me. I have to go about every 4 months to have my ears FLUSHED. It doesn't really hurt hurt. The side I hade the surgery on hurts the worst. The stuff he gets out is hard dried up blood. It feels good for about 4 days, then it is slowly closing back up. Doc says it may always be this way. Mine is due to the radiation and the fact that my mouth was held open for so long during surgery. Who would have ever thought. It is all these things that no one tells us about. Live and live with it.....you thought I was going to say LEARN. LOL......There is only living with all this.........Always Miss Vicki

I STILL have the hard wax problem to some extent -- from time to time I can feel the pressure building up and over-the-counter ear drops can't entirely solve the problem. The people at my eye/ear clinic have said I'll just have to keep having it flushed out when it reaches that stage.

Cathy

I still have tinnitus to some degree but it's probably from years of being a musician. It was worse after the chemo - especially if you had Cisplatin. It should get better over time. In subsequent hearing tests, my high freqency response actually improved. Ear wax will cut down the HF response.

I saw a cartoon one time that said if you have a constant humming then they will put you in touch with a compulsive toe tapper.

I notice the ringing in my ears mostly when I can not get to sleep and when I want it really quiet...it just gets louder and louder. It reminds me of locusts when I was growing up in Kansas.

I read once that a standard question asked of people in psychiatric therapy is if they hear a ringing in their ears. Now, I don't know if it is from the Cisplatin or before treatment. What a dilemma. It's one of those things I just keep quiet about when the doctor is asking questions

Ed

Hi Terry, The tinnitus I have had was for the year prior to my glossectomy and for about 3-4 months afterward, not having had Chemo or Rad I was told that it was from referred pain from tongue base and YES it does get better! I have noticed recurrences but then that may be because there is more cancer in my thyroid?
LOL Ed I dont mention the little people making noises anymore either

Terry, I have the buzzing also. Had cisplatin and the oncologist said it was due to that. Went to a hearing specialist and was tested and the high end is gone for me as well. The doctor said it was permanent as the ciplatin destoys the functionality of the hair-like things in the ear that enable us to hear. Oh well, part of the "new normal".

Terry and Kirk,

My doctor is involved in a study regenerating cochlear hair. Here's hoping all goes well and it can make a difference for those needing it in their new normal. I don't have specifics about the study, but it is listed in his vitae.

Sincerely,
Lisa