Hearing sensitivity in women following chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer: Results from a pilot study

PurposeOur aim was to examine in a prospective pilot study whether standard adjuvant treatments for breast cancer can adversely affect hearing.MethodsEight pre/peri-menopausal women with breast cancer had middle ear analysis (tympanometry) and pure tone audiometry conducted prior to and 6 months following Fluorouracil, Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide (FEC) or FEC plus taxotere chemotherapy treatments.ResultsThe mean hearing thresholds in both ears showed an elevation (that is a decline) post chemotherapy treatment at 6 and 8 kHz of between 20 and 30 dB, which is graded as a mild hearing impairment at the higher frequency range. There were individual differences in pattern and grade within the group.ConclusionsThe variability noted in the data is more than that would be anticipated for test-retest variance, suggesting that the hearing impairments are complex but genuine. The most likely cause of the reduction in hearing sensitivity is a change in oestrogen levels resulting from the breast cancer treatments.