RATIONALE: Understanding how oxaliplatin affects hearing loss, dizziness, and peripheral neuropathy may improve the ability to plan effective treatment for patients receiving oxaliplatin for solid tumors.

PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying hearing loss and dizziness in patients receiving oxaliplatin for solid tumors.

OBJECTIVES:

• Define the prevalence of audiometrically detectable hearing loss in patients with solid tumors treated with oxaliplatin.
• Describe the association of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and audiometrically detectable hearing loss in these patients.
• Describe the association of CIPN and patient self-reported scales including, Peripheral Neuropathy Scale, Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory.

OUTLINE: This is an exploratory study.

Patients will complete three self-reported questionnaires including the Peripheral Neuropathy Scale, Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory. Patients will also be asked a series of questions regarding symptoms or complaints about hearing changes, tinnitus, and dizziness that they may have experienced prior to, during, and after completion of chemotherapy. Patients will also undergo a hearing test.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 60 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of solid tumor

  • Received an oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy regimen within the past 15 months* NOTE: *If oxaliplatin was omitted from the patient's most recent chemotherapy regimen due to ototoxicity, the patient is still eligible for participation in this study

• No known CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• No history of spinal injuries
• ECOG performance status 0-3
• No history of chronic renal failure
• No known HIV/AIDS

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics

Primary care clinic