My husband has started losing his hearing. I mean big time losing his hearing. He is 61 stage 4 mixed cell lung cancer. Also, he has decided no more chemo! Wants to have some quality to his life, I respect his wishes. Haven't told doctor yet, will tell him next week.
My prayers are with you ... everything will work out..
God Bless you .
lisa
Remember that this does not have to be an all or nothing decision. Take a break. Maybe another approach? Your oncologist should be your partner in this. Quality of life is indeed very important. This horror is very rollercoaster, at least it is or me and very dependent on how I feel on a particular day. Discuss with your oncologist what else you can do and about managing side effects. Many of them can be managed but you have to convey to your team that you are having them and that you need help with them and that for you they are very bad. Get a second opinion from another oncologist at a large cancer center.
Chemo is also used for symptom control to improve quality of life. Please don't be blinkered into refusing chemo for its own sake. There has to be a balance between the benefits and the side-effects.
I agree with both of the above. Take a break from standard chemo and use something that will give still give your dad a quality of life. Maybe there is a maintenance drug your dad can try with minimim side effects that will still work. I made it clear from the very beginning with my oncologist that quality of life was most important to me, so together we choose things that are tolerable for me that still give me a decent quality of life. The easist (Avastin) didn't work, so I just started on Alimta. Had a few bad days but nothing intolerable, but if I feel it diminishes my quality of life, I'll talk to the doc about putting me on something else. There are plenty of things out there that your dad can try. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Susan
Hi,
Maybe your Dr or someone else on this site has already told you that certain Chemo DOES cause hearing loss. It's because the Chemo wipes out the hair follicles...both on the head and the tiny hairs in the ears that transmit sounds. I ended up with hearing aids and they really help. Hearing loss can be a big thing because you feel very isolated.
Good luck to your Dad.
Georgi
my dad also has some hearing loss (he is 72 y.o.) and we are assuming the chemo (carboplatin/etop) are the culprit. Quality of life is good - so if need be - we will look into hearing aid at some time.
Good luck to you whatever you decide.
Maria
Thank you all for your positive responses. It is my husband that has cancer, which is not curable. The chemo has done a horrible job on him, he is nothing more then a skeleton, without hair and now cannot even hear his grandchildren when they talk to him. Both him and I want him to have the best quality of life for the time that God allows him to be here.
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