herceptin and/or taxol treatments and hearing loss

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chashdan
chashdan Member Posts: 2
edited March 2020 in Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer

I see there a many people here who have hearing loss from the tamoxifen.

I am interested in knowing if anyone has hearing loss and/or tinnitus from the Herceptin or the taxol

my hearing loss started before the diagnosis and treatments but it is so much worse now after the chemo and the Herceptin.

I want to have another hearing test done but should I wait to finish the Herceptin in another 2 months or do it already? I finished the Taxol (chemo) in the middle of June.

thanx to all who answer and can shed some light

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  • Meadow
    Meadow Member Posts: 2,007
    edited December 2016

    Hi Chashdan. I have not had herceptin, so I have no experience to relay, but I did have taxol. I have tinnitus, but as you said, it did start before my diagnosis. It is worse, and I do have a hearing deficit. Not sure if I can say it is the chemo, but it could be! I am only 55, so I am guessing I will have less hearing as I grow older. Hoping to grow much, much older too!

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  • tessu
    tessu Member Posts: 1,564
    edited January 2017

    During the CEF part of chemo I developed loud tinnitus and moderate hearing loss in my left ear. Before that, I had had 3 doses of Taxotere/Herceptin, and afterwards Herceptin-only for 14 more doses. Both the oncologists and the ear specialist blamed the chemo, even though the problem is one-sided. Taxotere caused me severe neuropathy in all my fingers, most of which has resolved, so that might have been part of the cause, but the docs believe it was one of the CEF meds --- sorry, but I don't remember which one because I had such awful chemo-brain when I was worked up for the ear symptoms. Neither the tinnitus nor the hearing loss has got any worse (or better)during the ten months of only-Herceptin treatment or the almost three months since that stopped.

    I've never had Tamoxifen but was started on anastrozole then recently switched to letrozole

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  • Triangular
    Triangular Member Posts: 2
    edited September 2018

    Yes, hearing loss in higher notes to Taxol, Perjeta and Herceptin within 1-3 months. I went from normal hearing to not hearing phone, radio, music, DVD's. Where did the sound go so quickly? My better ear became less able to hear or process sound. Tinnitus makes up for the lack of sound with a whistling noise.

    At this point I bought hearing aids.

    I just learned I am losing bass notes with Gemzar & Herceptin at 3-5 months. Tinnitus continues. What has now been the worst ear hearing sound continues to decline at a faster rate. My worst ear now feels like it is stuffed with cotton balls that are blocking sound.


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  • sweetp6217
    sweetp6217 Member Posts: 365
    edited March 2020

    My tinnitus was almost imperceptible before chemo. Almost 2 years after the last of the Herceptin treatments and it's a steady high pitched sound that only loud music or sounds will drown out. It's so distracting at times, I feel like an idiot when I have to ask someone to repeat what they just said. It takes an effort to focus on the sounds I should be hearing. I tried (cheap) hearing aids and they actually hurt me. The treatment is to have a sound app and play it at night as I'm trying to get to sleep. That lasted a few weeks but the problem persists. There are supposedly a series of other treatments, but I was really hoping that the tinnitus would go away or at least improve. People I've spoken with have no idea what this is like. In fact, the list of SE from hormonal medicine outweigh this so much that I almost forget to mention it at each office visit.

    Sorry to vent. We are not alone. Hugs to you all.

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