USF’s Victoria Sanchez and Robert Frisina are part of a team studying the effects of a common cancer drug on hearing. They tracked a cohort of testicular cancer patients that received cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Over an average period of 14 years, 78% experienced significant difficulties in everyday listening situations. This is the first research to measure real-world listening challenges and hearing loss progression in cancer survivors over a long period of time.

Cisplatin and similar chemo drugs damage the cochlea in the inner ear, leading to hearing loss. The risk increases with higher doses. Despite that, hearing assessments for chemotherapy patients are not routine, says Sanchez. “This research gives oncologists the information they need to explore alternative treatment plans that could reduce the long-term side effects, such as altering the dosages and timing of the cisplatin in the treatment,” adds Frisina.

• Robert Frisina
• Victoria Sanchez