Chemotherapy drugs can cause “significant” hearing loss. cancer survivoraccording to a study from the University of South Florida and Indiana University.
Researchers tracked 100 testicular cancer survivors who received a chemo drug called cisplatin for an average of 14 years, a USF press release noted.
Among the participants, whose average age was 48 years, 78% of them reported experiencing “significant difficulties in everyday listening situations.”
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This is reported to be the first study to evaluate its potential hearing loss among cancer survivors.
“Patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy are at high risk for permanent hearing loss, and for some, the hearing loss will progress years after chemo treatment,” lead author Victoria Sanchez, associate professor in the USF Health Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, told Fox Digital News in email.
Chemotherapy drugs can cause “significant” hearing loss among cancer survivors, according to a study. (iStock)
“This hearing loss affects the way people hear in everyday situations, such as noisy restaurants or other social gatherings.”
Cisplatin is a type of chemotherapy drug that contains the metal platinum, according to the National Cancer Institute website.
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The IV-administered drug is approved to treat bladder cancer, ovarian cancer and testicular cancer, the NCI states, alone or in combination with other drugs.
Higher doses of cisplatin were associated with more severe cases hearing lossresearchers found.
Cisplatin is a type of chemotherapy drug that contains the metal platinum, according to the National Cancer Institute website. (iStock)
Those at highest risk include patients with heart disease or high blood pressure.
“It is surprising that cardiovascular conditions are associated with hearing loss and the development of hearing loss, which requires patients to consider. healthy lifestyle options to help protect your ears,” Sanchez said.
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The ear is especially vulnerable to the drug because it can’t filter, according to the USF researchers.
“This leads to inflammation and damage to sensory cells important for sound coding, resulting in permanent hearing loss that may improve after cisplatin treatment ends,” the release said.
Researchers tracked 100 testicular cancer survivors who received a chemo drug called cisplatin for an average of 14 years. (iStock)
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved cisplatin for testicular cancer treatment in 1978, according to the NIH.
The packaging label for the drug warns of potential ototoxicity, which causes damage to the inner ear as drug side effects.
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“Hearing loss can be unilateral or bilateral and tends to become more frequent and severe with repeated doses,” the packaging says.
“A reduced ability to hear normal conversational tones may occur.”
It is not clear whether the ototoxicity caused by the drug is reversible, according to the packaging.
“Once hearing loss is identified, treatment and help for hearing loss is available,” said the lead author. “Health care providers can talk to patients about the risk of hearing loss and plan for survival.” (iStock)
Based on these findings, researchers suggest that cancer patients can talk to them health care provider about possible hearing loss as a side effect of treatment and to receive a hearing evaluation while receiving chemotherapy.
“Check out the hearing if you have any concerns,” Sanchez said.
“Once hearing loss is identified, treatment and help for hearing loss is available. Health care providers can talk with patients about the risk of hearing loss and plan for survival.”
The ear is especially vulnerable to the drug because it can’t filter, according to the USF researchers. (iStock)
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Fox News medical contributor, noted that cisplatin is a “very effective treatment” for testicular cancer, increasing cure rates from 10% to 90% when used in combination with other drugs.
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“(The drug has) a very high side effect, (including) hearing loss, which is very prominent, in up to 80% of patients,” Siegel, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. via email.
A cost-benefit analysis should be done for all treatments, the doctor advises.
“High doses of chemotherapy (especially those based on platinum) and radiation to the head, ears or brain can cause damage and hearing problems in one or both ears,” the ACS says. (iStock)
“Because this is a deadly cancer, the benefits are largely side effects, until newer, less toxic and equally effective treatments are developed,” Siegel said.
The main limitation of the study, according to Sanchez, is that all patients are very similar – men treated for testicular cancer.
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“We need to do additional studies to understand women treated with cisplatin and for other types of cancer,” he said.
The purpose is the research will lead to alternatives in chemotherapy treatment plans and preventive treatments to reduce the risk of hearing loss, according to USF.
“Cancer treatment-related hearing loss is often permanent (it doesn’t go away), but hearing aids can help.”
The American Cancer Society warns on its website about the potential for chemotherapy drugs to affect hearing.
“High doses of chemotherapy (especially platinum-based) and radiation to the head, ears or brain can cause damage and hearing problems in one or both ears,” the ACS says.
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“Cancer treatment-related hearing loss is often permanent (it doesn’t go away), but hearing aids can help.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the FDA, ACS and several manufacturers of branded cisplatin drugs for comment.
