Chemo- hearing loss
 

Hey everyone,

So I wanted to see if anyone out there has had to deal with hearing loss from chemo- feeling pretty devastated right now. For the past three months I’ve been treated for recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer (was 15 years no cancer before this); the treatment is just chemo for now, carboplatin, taxol, and keytruda immunotherapy. I had major hearing loss from my very first treatment with original cancer in 2003, but just this weekend I started hearing some more ringing in my one good ear, then yesterday and today, I woke up and noticed a huge change in my hearing. Like I can barely hear my own voice now. I have been using a BAHA device which has helped over the past years, but now it’s not enough. And like in one day everything has changed. People’s voices sound like they are talking in a tin drum- I don’t know, metallic.

Ugh, of all the side effects so far, this is definitely the worst. I’m seriously afraid I’m going to wake up tomorrow deaf. I am supposed to have a hearing test to confirm that’s it’s really the chemo causing this, but I already know. Is anyone else basically going deaf from chemo? How have you dealt with it? I already know some sign language, and will upgrading to a better hearing processer, but if it’s nerve damage i don’t know if that will really help. I’m sad that I can’t hear my kids. I know I’m supposed to be thankful to just be alive, but sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. Thanks for reading, hope everyone is staying safe from the virus. ~Marie