Oxaliplatin induced ototoxicity (hearing problems)

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Jolene
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Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2019 10:17 am

Oxaliplatin induced ototoxicity (hearing problems)

Postby Jolene » Sun Mar 07, 2021 6:32 am

Hi all - just wondering if anyone has experienced hearing problems with oxaliplatin infusion?

I have been hearing a buzzing sound in my ears in the last couple of weeks, my general practitioner doctor suspects tinnitus which is basically nerve damage in the ear. I'm only 41 this year and the only thing I could think of anything damaging my nerves is the xelox chemo due to the oxaliplatin component.

It's been 1.5 years since my xelox chemo has ended. I did a quick google and found out that while it is a rare adverse side effect, it is not unusual as there are studies and papers written about it.

I will be checking in with my oncologist soon but wondering if anyone might have similar issues or come across any posts on this? I did a quick search but nothing came up. Thanks a lot !
Dx @ 39 F on WW managmeent
Nov 18 - Dx of a mid-rectal tumour at T3N1M0 (2cm) 7cm from AV
Dec 18 - CRT, 28 sessions + Capecitabine at 3000mg daily
Jan - Mar - WW in place (12 weeks)
Mar'19 - MRI, PET, sig flex and biopsy ordered to determine being a WW candidate.
Apr - CCR, surgery on hold. 6 cycles of Xelox.
Aug - 6 cycles of Xelox completed
19 - Flex sig, biopsy, PET/MRI
2019 - 2023 - Every 6 mths - Full scope / Flex sig / biopsy, PET / MRI / CT every 6 months
Dec 23 - All clear 5 years on ! Thank god !

roadrunner
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Re: Oxaliplatin induced ototoxicity (hearing problems)

Postby roadrunner » Sun Mar 07, 2021 2:17 pm

I assume you’re describing tinnitus. There’s no question that Oxaliplatin does a number on nerves—I can vouch for that every time I get up in the morning and walk across the bedroom floor (and my neuropathy is quite minor from what I have read/understand!).

However, tinnitus is also a very common condition that increases in prevalence with age, and most cases start after 40. Plus, in your case you didn’t notice it until about 1.5 years after chemo, which to me diminishes the likehood of (but does not refute) a causal link. Further, tinnitus is one of those conditions that varies in severity by how much one concentrates on it (that is NOT to say it’s made up, or the result of “focusing on it,” etc.) I have, however, suffered from it for many years (from playing in rock bands “back in the day”) and have observed that it “disappears” when I’m not looking for it/distracted, but can seem quite acute when I do focus on it (as I write this, for instance : ) I also feel it “really” varies in intensity from time to time, for various reasons (but that’s just an impression).

And I DID sometimes feel mine was worse during chemo, but was unable to reliably verify that. Now, 6 months post-chemo, it seems to have returned to its “baseline” from prior to chemo. So:

I hope and trust your “buzzing” isn’t too bad, just mildly annoying (some cases can be worse than that, for sure). If that’s the case, my advice (which you didn’t ask for—sorry!) is to try to just accept it/welcome as part of your everyday “background noise.” It’ll vanish, and eventually you’ll become comfortable with it when you do notice it again. Maybe it was triggered by the chemo, maybe not—there’s no question that chemo does weird things (my hair was grey pre-chemo, turned white, and is now coming in black (?!)). And I think we all have similar “small things” as a result of the poisoning :D and irradiation we undergo.

Of course, as always (and as you intend to do), make sure your Dr. is comfortable that there’s no broader issue.
7/19: RC: Staged IIIA, T2N1M0
approx 4.25 cm, low/mid rectum, mod. well diff.; lung micronodule
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I_will_fight
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Re: Oxaliplatin induced ototoxicity (hearing problems)

Postby I_will_fight » Sun Mar 07, 2021 3:31 pm

For what´s worth:

I have had tinnitus for about 4 years, it is tolerable and I have heard that it might be related to a number of things (hearing loss, teeth clenching, stress).

I had 3 months of CAPOX and I was quite worried it might exacerbate my tinnitus, but I have not noticed anything yet (I am not discarding it may happen).

Good luck!
46 yo male Spain
06/2020 - 6cm T3N0M0 CC splenic flex
3 and 4 mm lung ground glass
lymp 0/37
dMMR MSH6
KRAS mt G13D
V/LNI absent
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07/20 - hemicol surg, optimistic surgeon.
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beach sunrise
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Re: Oxaliplatin induced ototoxicity (hearing problems)

Postby beach sunrise » Sun Mar 07, 2021 4:39 pm

I ran across an article about this some time back. I will see if I can find it again but I believe it was a b vitamin that helped, which one it is no clue. I'll post the paper if I can find it again.
8/19 RC CEA 82.6 T3N0M0
5FU/rad 6 wk
IVC 75g 1 1/2 wks before surgery. Continue 2x a week
Surg 1/20 -margins T4bN1a IIIC G2 MSI- 1/20 LN+ LVI+ PNI-
pre cea 24 post 5.9
FOLFOX
7 rds 6-10 CEA 11.4 No more
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7/20 11.1 8.8
8/20 7.8
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10/20 8.1
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2023
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Blakeacw
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Location: Atlanta

Re: Oxaliplatin induced ototoxicity (hearing problems)

Postby Blakeacw » Mon Mar 08, 2021 11:17 am

I just completed 10 rounds of folxfox - we cut off the oxy after 7 rounds. I noticed the same thing with the tinnitus - it became much more frequent and stronger, especially at night , as things quieted down. I asked the oncologist and he hadn't heard of it , but I read it is a rare side effect from the OXY - not sure if the popping up later means it came from something else.

I've been a shotgun shooter for many, many years , I think I probably did plenty of damage already but it was noticeable

or do I just notice everything now ?
Colonoscopy 8/2020 - cancer diag. 9cm mass
Colectomy 8/2020 - successful -margins cleared
2 /16 lymph nodes -m1 tumor deposit
Pt3 n1b

Port installed 9/20
Folfox - 10/12 rounds complete

CEA
8.6.20 - 8.7 Prior Surgery
9.4.20 - 3.0 Post Surgery
4.14.21 - 2.7
6.16.21 - 3.0
9.29.21 - 2.3
12.13.21 - 2.1
3.17.22 - 2.0
CT Scan 3/18/21 - NED
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Jolene
Posts: 180
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Re: Oxaliplatin induced ototoxicity (hearing problems)

Postby Jolene » Thu Mar 11, 2021 8:53 am

Hello all - Thanks for the response and feedback.

The tinnitus is getting worse by the day. I could only hear it just before going to bed at night, these days I can even hear it during the day !!

Apparently vitamin B complex can help with nerve function. I've been taking it for almost 2 weeks but it seems to only get worse.

I don't work with any loud noisy environment so I really can't think of anything else that would damage my nerves other than the oxliplatin.

While 41 ain't spring chicken, I do think it's too early to be getting tinnitus! I will update again after going to the doctor.
Dx @ 39 F on WW managmeent
Nov 18 - Dx of a mid-rectal tumour at T3N1M0 (2cm) 7cm from AV
Dec 18 - CRT, 28 sessions + Capecitabine at 3000mg daily
Jan - Mar - WW in place (12 weeks)
Mar'19 - MRI, PET, sig flex and biopsy ordered to determine being a WW candidate.
Apr - CCR, surgery on hold. 6 cycles of Xelox.
Aug - 6 cycles of Xelox completed
19 - Flex sig, biopsy, PET/MRI
2019 - 2023 - Every 6 mths - Full scope / Flex sig / biopsy, PET / MRI / CT every 6 months
Dec 23 - All clear 5 years on ! Thank god !

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mmblz
Posts: 58
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Re: Oxaliplatin induced ototoxicity (hearing problems)

Postby mmblz » Fri Mar 12, 2021 4:25 am

I had mild tinnitus during chemo, went away after chemo. Hope yours improves!
40yo married 16 years. 4 kids 12, 10, 7, 5
2015-09-21 colonoscopy finds tumor in sigmoid, partial obstruction
2015-09-22 CT no mets, path G2 adenocarcinoma, CEA 1.2
2015-09-29 lap hemicolectomy at MSKCC
2015-10-06 pT3 N1a M0 stage IIIB
2015-10-22 folfox started - 12 rounds, last 4 no oxaliplatin
2016-10-27 clear CT !
2021-03-25 "cured"

WelshIan
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Re: Oxaliplatin induced ototoxicity (hearing problems)

Postby WelshIan » Sun Apr 11, 2021 10:15 am

I am on cycle 4 of capox 6 months 8 cycles, stopped with oxi last cycle due to adverse side effects still have slight ringing in my right ear, also a possible side effects of the Capecitabine (xeloda), hear it more at night.
10/20 colon tumour from ct scan / with lung density
11/20 colonoscopy tumour confirmed
12/20 right side colectomy
1/21 pathology staging T3c N2a 4 lymph nodes of 26 posiive
1/21 ct scan - clear
2/21 CAPOX 3 months cycle 1
2/21 CAPOX 3 months cycle 2
3/21 PICC line removed
3/21 Xeloda cycle 3 cea 0.7
4/21 Xeloda cycle 4 4000mg per day CEA 0.4
6/21 Xeloda cycle 8 of 8 4500mg per day
7/21 CAPOX completed
12/21 Ct Scan and full blood work
12/22 1 yr NED
...ongoing

Jannine
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Re: Oxaliplatin induced ototoxicity (hearing problems)

Postby Jannine » Sat May 01, 2021 10:57 pm

Not cancer related, but I have to share this anyway...

I suffer from tinnitus, which I've had for a good 20+ years (I am 51 now). It has at times been bad enough that I have lost sleep over it. It did not get worse during chemo, but over time I ended up wearing earplugs whenever I was in a loud environment, because I thought that would help avoid damaging my hearing further. I could hear it all the time, regardless of what was going on around me, and it seemed worse after I was in loud spaces; it "vibrated" more then. Also, loud sounds seemed painfully loud to me, while other people were generally unbothered by them. After chemo I finally went to an audiologist and found out that wearing earplugs was exactly the wrong thing to do; I was making my tinnitus worse, not better. She found I had some mild hearing loss but suggested hearing aids to help combat the tinnitus. Hearing aids are stupid-expensive in the US but I decided to try it. It took a good 6 months, but the ringing in my ears is no longer loud enough to keep me awake at night and my quality of life is much better. I do now carry custom earplugs with me, in case I really do need them, but I hardly ever use them. Loud sounds no longer seem painfully and disproportionately loud to me.

Obviously my experience isn't cancer related, but just in case anyone else is having this problem, I wanted to share my experience with it. Reducing my tinnitus has really helped me feel like I have my life back. I used to hate going anywhere even vaguely loud. It was isolating and scary.

I hope your tinnitus goes away again! It is definitely more noticeable at night and when it's otherwise quiet. A sound machine in the bedroom is often recommended to help with sleeping; you might try that, but I'd also find an audiologist and get checked out. They can help you figure out what's going on!
DX: sigmoid colon cancer 5/2018. 48 F
laparoscopic sigmoid resection (24 cm removed); no stoma.
7.5cm adenocarcinoma -- mod. diff.
1 noncontiguous tumor deposit removed; 0/31 lymph nodes
T3 pN1c M0
5/18 before surgery, CEA 11.2
6/18 began FOLFOX
7/18: CEA 1.9; added neulasta post infusion
9/18: CEA 2.8
10/18: 25% chemo reduction
11/18: CEA 1.8
7/19 CT scan clear


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