Living with Cancer, Hyperacusis & Tinnitus.

It all started in 2017/18. I was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer. An 8 cm tumour in my chest, and a couple of infected swollen lymph nodes in my stomach. I was told that I needed to take at least 8 months off from working as a fine dining server in Toronto, Canada. I completed six rounds of brutal chemotherapy, and 25 rounds of radiation treatments. Three quarters through my radiation, I started to notice that my ears had a ring, that would not go away. I also worked as a musician for twenty years as a rapper, in the electronic music scene. After some events, my ears would ring, but it would all be gone upon awakening the very next day, this time it was not going away.

Two months after treatment, I went back to work. After some time, I started to notice, that people’s voices in the restaurant were very loud for some reason, the clanking of dishes was hurting my ears. I thought I had an ear infection, so I saw a doctor, he diagnosed the infection that unfortunately never went away, even with antibiotics. I decided to get a second opinion, and went to another clinic, and this doctor told me I had no sign of infection. He suggested to see a TMJ doctor to get assessed to see if my jaw joints were misaligned, and could be the cause of my sound sensitivity and tinnitus. I immediately saw a doctor, and through an MRI scan, was told my joints were a little off. I was prescribed a muscle relaxer to relax the muscles in my face, to see if it would calm things down. The medication worked for two weeks, afterwards the monster came back. I was told that I have these auditory conditions because of cancer treatments, and the stress that came with it, that altered my jaw. In order for treatments to not have any negative effects on my oral health, I had to get two teeth removed prior to starting treatment, the stress and the removal of teeth, initiated the TMJ dysfunction.

I looked online and found other people who suffered like me, and apparently what I had was Hyperacusis – extreme sensitivity to everyday normal sounds, and tinnitus, in which of course I already knew that I had. I saw the best doctors in Canada to asses me, and was told to go on certain medications, after having an in-depth CT scan of both ears, they found nothing wrong. I tried multiple medicines, in which nothing worked. I have been on a benzodiazepine named Clonazepam for three years now, it worked for the first year or so, but now it’s altering my auditory symptoms in a negative way, and tapering off is very difficult.

The only remedy I found that has worked for my particular case is time, quiet & hearing protection. So, staying in the quietest environment using both ear plugs, and ear muffs when around any sounds, and that is it, to avoid increased worsening to my Pain Hyperacusis & Tinnitus. I have been living my life like this for 6.5 years now. The pain can be burning in my ears, face and head, stabbing into the ears, and incredibly intense aching from even just somebody talking.

Cancer was a walk in the park for me, I was able to go to social functions, coffee shops to get my favourite espresso, put my headphones on with my favourite music, and walk around Toronto. A friend even threw a fundraising event for me, and I was able to perform my music. None of this I could ever do with Hyperacusis and Tinnitus, I can’t even be around my family. Relationships have fallen apart etc, because I am not “physically” out with my social circles anymore, I am a recluse living between four walls.

What I do to cope, is I raise awareness to keep busy. I have done numerous media interviews about the conditions over the years. I write poetry to express my emotions seeing I cannot rap anymore, which gives me a sense of calm to a degree. Have taken up light photography, and graphic design. I also chat with other sufferers, and we help to keep each other a float every day. If I did not have the community, I do not know what I would do.

All in all, Cancer was very hard to deal with, but it is nothing compared to the torture I deal with on the daily with these auditory conditions, I do not wish this even on my worst enemy.

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Note: If you are affected by the conditions described in this article, seek help from qualified medical professionals for medical investigations, diagnosis, support and treatment.  

Note: To learn more about hyperacusis click here.

Note: To learn more about tinnitus click here.