Hi All, I had Cisplatin in 1989, and this is 2004 and I still have the ringing in my ears. I also
have hearing loss as well. Thank you It's nice
to know what caused it.
Cathy

Hi, everyone.
Tom has had tinnitis for a long time now, and he says it is more pronounced since the chemo. He, too, has lost the high-end pitch recognition...it was kind of funny when he was having his hearing test and I sat with him. I could hear all those high notes, and had to keep myself from signaling for him! I've noticed that I have to repeat EVERYTHING now unless I am looking directly at him. I suppose a hearing aid will be in his near future.

Hi everyone, Has anyone ever noticed that people that have cancer live in the eastern, southern,CA and some in ths middle part of the country. I wonder why that is? I've been noticeing it more lately. Thanks, Cathy

Hey Cathy,

I am from the Pacific Northwest, moved to Arizona and was Dx'd 8 months later. I knew I shouldn't have moved south.

I also have tinnitus both ears (radiated both sides) and high pitch loss in right ear (surgery side). Most of the time the tinnitus doesn't really bother me, although it is there all the time. But there are times when I think it is going to drive me crazier than I already am.

I thought it was just me because the professionals that I asked about it told me that surgery and radiation should have nothing to do with it. Why am I not surprised to find out that they were wrong.

Jack
..........
Dx 1/15/97 SCC rt. tonsil met to rt lymph node Stg IV, Srgry 1/23/97 tonsillectomy & mod radical neck dissection, Radiation 35 trtmnts both sides

I have had tinnitus for years before my cancer and the usual answer is there is no cure. I read an article about it and it said some people go to clinics to learn how to live with it. It gave the example of William Shatner as having been too close to an explosion during Star Trek and getting tinnitus and going to a clinic to learn to live with it. I hope the doctor involved in a study regenerating cochlear hair has some luck. There does not appear to be much work being done on tinnitus.

One of the more common side effects wih cisplatin is tinnitus and loss of high-end hearing. This is one reason that my husband's MO did not want to give him cisplatin as he already has some high-end hearing loss (the other was risk of exacerbating his benign hand tremor, as cis also can cause peripheral neuropathy). Instead Barry was given carboplatin with as good clinical results as with the older drug (and no hearing loss per post-treatment audiology exam). We knew the risks of cisplatin when we met with the MO and this was discussed prior to his treatment plan being developed.

Some prople have reported cisplatin-induced tinnitus resolving or getting less serious over time, but the high-end hearing loss is supposedly permanent. Have heard two contrasting opinions as to whether it can be corrected with a hearing aid; it would certainly be worth consulting an audiologist. I personally have some tinnitus from unknown causes and also have been unable to find a solution that works for me, but our ENT did say that some people get relief from certain supplements or medications. (Check with Tinnitus foundation on web). Mine is not bad and I just live with it.

Gail

Just to add my two cents worth,
I had three doses of cisplatin 1 every three weeks during my radiation. I have just had a follow up and because I complained of hearing problems I had a test. I have a slight loss at high end but nothing too serious. I also have developed peripheral neuropathy in my fingers and feet, I am waiting to see Oncology about this but it is thought to be a side effect of the cisplatin. It is a minor annoyance.

Here is another two cents' worth. I had two treatments with cisplatin, complained of weird hearing problems that had resolved by time of next treatment, but was switched post haste to carboplatin for the remainder. As far as the peripheral neuropathy, my toes were badly affected, but that all resolved after several months, perhaps as long as a year. Do not give up hope.

one dose of cisplatin was enough to turn my everyday tinnitus into something really unpleasant (A flat 2 octaves above middle C). I have been using ginko biloba for a year or so.
No cure but it does seem to mitigate the noise somewhat. I googled tinnitus one day and it was the only thing available.

kem

I just have to get the last word in...

I only notice the ringing in my ears when someone asks me. As I read the posts, I could hear the locusts around me. My feet get cold often, too. And the L'Hermittes (aka the Sabrina butt dance) never went away.