New cancer drugs turn patients' gray hair BROWN in bizarre side effect that has left scientists baffled

Cancer patients' gray hair unexpectedly turned dark while taking new immunotherapy drugs, a new study reveals.

While chemotherapy is notorious for making hair fall out, the 14 patients involved in this report, some in their 70s, were all being treated with a new form of drugs called immunotherapy, which work differently and have different side effects.

In patients with lung cancer, Spanish researchers found the drugs had a knack for turning gray hair brown.  

With the first patient, 'we thought it could be an isolated case,' said Dr. Noelia Rivera, a dermatologist at Autonomous University of Barcelona.

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These photos from the Journal of the American Medical Association shows a cancer patient with gray hair that unexpectedly turned dark while taking new immunotherapy drugs

But she said the research team found the same thing when they asked other patients for photos from before treatment.

The 14 cases were among 52 lung cancer patients being followed to see whether they developed bad side effects from the drugs - Keytruda, Opdivo and Tecentriq.

While most patients did not have a color change, the 14 cases suggest it's not an isolated finding. In 13 patients, hair turned darkish brown or black. In one patient, it turned black in patches.

Cancer patients' gray hair unexpectedly turned dark while taking new immunotherapy drugs, a new study reveals.

While chemotherapy is notorious for making hair fall out, the 14 patients involved in this report, some in their 70s, were all being treated with a new form of drugs called immunotherapy, which work differently and have different side effects.

In patients with lung cancer, Spanish researchers found the drugs had a knack for turning gray hair brown.  

With the first patient, 'we thought it could be an isolated case,' said Dr. Noelia Rivera, a dermatologist at Autonomous University of Barcelona.

• 
  

These photos from the Journal of the American Medical Association shows a cancer patient with gray hair that unexpectedly turned dark while taking new immunotherapy drugs

But she said the research team found the same thing when they asked other patients for photos from before treatment.

The 14 cases were among 52 lung cancer patients being followed to see whether they developed bad side effects from the drugs - Keytruda, Opdivo and Tecentriq.

While most patients did not have a color change, the 14 cases suggest it's not an isolated finding. In 13 patients, hair turned darkish brown or black. In one patient, it turned black in patches.