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Melanoma in ear canal

Posted by wgv @wgv, May 11 9:54am

Have a melanoma in my left ear canal which is blocking my hearing. Hearing aids didn't work. Looking for some ideas to help.

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sepdvm | May 13 9:36am

Hello @wgv and welcome to Connect. I imagine your tumor location is quite rare. Is your medical team discussing surgery or other treatments? I had a Squamous Cell Carcinoma in my external ear canal 13 years ago. In removing the ear canal, eardrum, Parotid salivary gland, and lymph nodes there was hearing left in my internal ear, but no way for sound to get there with no ear canal. A year after surgery I had a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid placed surgically at Mayo Clinic. This amazing device changes sound into vibration and it travels through the bones of the skull to the inner ears. My BAHA has been such a blessing, to go from unilateral hearing back to bilateral. The placement of the abutment was done as an outpatient surgery with local anesthetic. About a month later I returned for the BAHA. Life-changing! Ask your audiologist who has experience with BAHAs in your area. You might have to travel to find an ENT who does this.

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wgv | @wgv | May 13 10:21am
In reply to @sepdvm "Hello @wgv and welcome to Connect. I imagine your tumor location is quite rare. Is your..." + (show)
@sepdvm

Hello @wgv and welcome to Connect. I imagine your tumor location is quite rare. Is your medical team discussing surgery or other treatments? I had a Squamous Cell Carcinoma in my external ear canal 13 years ago. In removing the ear canal, eardrum, Parotid salivary gland, and lymph nodes there was hearing left in my internal ear, but no way for sound to get there with no ear canal. A year after surgery I had a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid placed surgically at Mayo Clinic. This amazing device changes sound into vibration and it travels through the bones of the skull to the inner ears. My BAHA has been such a blessing, to go from unilateral hearing back to bilateral. The placement of the abutment was done as an outpatient surgery with local anesthetic. About a month later I returned for the BAHA. Life-changing! Ask your audiologist who has experience with BAHAs in your area. You might have to travel to find an ENT who does this.

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Thanks for the info. It was very helpful. One sided hearing is driving me nuts. Tried a few different aids but the canal if fully blocked. I live in the jacksonville, FL area near the mayo so I'll consult w them.
Thanks for ur imput

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