Hearing Loss From Lung Cancer Treatment Changes Everything, But Not Hope

Matthew Baker, who has been diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, described experiencing ototoxicity from Paraplatin (carboplatin) as one of his most significant side effects, leading to hearing loss that has impacted his ability to communicate and engage in everyday activities.

He noted that while he also experiences typical side effects such as diarrhea, nausea and fatigue, the hearing loss has been especially life changing. He shared that even simple activities, like walking to a stadium to see the Savannah Bananas, have become physically and emotionally challenging compared with how he felt just six months earlier.

Baker explained that he underwent a cochlear implant evaluation and described the adjustment to hearing loss as a learning curve. He said moments in public spaces can feel disorienting, particularly when he cannot hear anything around him, creating a sense that the world has become silent.

Despite these challenges, he emphasized a focus on perspective and gratitude. He described himself as a positive person and said he often reminds himself that others face even more severe outcomes from cancer, including loss of limbs or more profound functional changes. He noted that while his life has changed significantly, he still finds value in what he is able to do and remains appreciative that he is still here.

Transcript

What side effects have you experienced from treatment, and how have they affected your daily life and outlook?

My biggest side effect is that I lost my hearing. It’s called ototoxicity from the Paraplatin. It doesn’t typically happen as much with Paraplatin as it does with Platinol (cisplatin), but it can happen. It’s not one you read about when you’re going through the fine print of what they’re about to put into your body. Other than that, you know, the typical diarrhea, nausea, really being tired. For me, I had the opportunity to go see the Savannah Bananas while we were here the first night, and walking to the stadium was almost depressing in some ways, because I normally would have no problem doing that, and it just about brings me to tears to do any type of real physical exertion, which wasn’t a problem six months ago.

I have always been told that I’m a positive person, even when I went for my cochlear implant evaluation. The audiologist was like; I can’t believe you’re going through all this. This is a horrible thing to go through. And I said to him, it could be worse. There are things that I sit and think about. I have my limbs, you know, I can still do most of the things that I did before. It’s a learning curve. I’ve lost my ability to just communicate normally. I went to the Tar Heel stadium to watch the Savannah Bananas, and I couldn’t hear a thing. You look around, and it’s like the world becomes silent, where things that were once enjoyable… I can’t even comprehend it. I can’t even find the words to express that. To just wake up one day and live in silence. But like I say, it could be worse.

You know, you see people losing their limbs from cancer and their lives changing in very different ways, and I feel fortunate that it wasn’t one of those. I’m still here.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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