Ringing In The Ears

Tutaj

I am a male that had breast cancer. Mastectomy performed and lymph nodes removed. No futher cancer. However, I am been on Tamoxifen for about 6 months. 2 months ago I have developed ringing in both ears. I cannot find any documentation tieing tamoxifen to rining in the ears. Anyone experiencing this? I am considering going off the tamoxifen for a month or so to see if it stops. Any thoughts? Thanks.

ithaca

Hi Tutaj - I found a reference to it on another discussion list:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/78/topic/743183 

 My best, Bob

Tutaj

Thanks for the quick response Bob. My oncologist said it was OK to stop taking the tamoxifen for a month to see what happens. It would be interesting if the ringing goes away.

hbcheryl

Bob I take Femara and I have a low frequency tone going on in my right ear my PCP told me that if you look at all of the side effects it's there but so low that it's like .002% so I imagine that it's there for Tamoxifen as well

kareylou

Another data point: I developed ringing in my ears after starting tamoxifen. Am not convinced it's related, but am not convinced it's not. It's been going on for a couple years now and nothing I do helps. I've gotten accustomed to it to a surprising degree.

1rarebird

Tinnitus, or ring in the ears/hearing, has been a problem of mine well before the breast cancer (Too many chainsaws and rock and roll in my youth, I suppose.) So it is no surprise that the ringing continues after my starting Tamoxifen a month ago. I will, however, be on the look out for any signs that it is worsening now that I am taking TAM.---bird

sweatyspice

Hi Gentlemen,

I developed ringing in my ears about a year before I was diagnosed, and well before Tamox (which I haven't even started yet).  I'll also be interested to see if it worsens with the Tamox, but for me Tamox definitely wasn't the cause. 

Survivorxxx

My hearing has been tested over 20 years as part of a long term monitoring system (I'm unusual-- I have perfect-- hearing capacity according to human monitors).  My doctor told me that the ringing in my ears-- that started around the time that I started my Tamoxifen, was related to the aging process--not related to tamoxifen, and something I should watch-- as ringing can indicate loss of hearing that can be mitigated with hearing aids.  In reality, 5 years later,  I have had no loss of hearing whatsoever, but the high-pitch ringing increases in volume in various circumstances.  I've learned to deal with it -- but it can be very distracting. 

leggo

Ringing in the ears can also be a sign of high blood pressure and an impending heart attack. I'd keep an eye one your blood pressure just to be on the safe side.