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Eyelashes turning white on Nivo/Opdivo
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Eyelashes turning white on Nivo/Opdivo

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Eyelashes turning white on Nivo/Opdivo

  • Post
    • December 31, 2018 at 1:12 am
    lkb
    Participant

      I've heard of patients' hair turning white on nivo. After four months of treatment, my hair is still dark brown, but my eyelashes are now white. Has anyone else had this experience or read about how/whether it relates to efficacy?

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    • Replies
        • December 31, 2018 at 1:32 am
        aldrichdesigner
        Participant
          I had vitiligo with Keytruda and white spots in my hair which is basically the same process. It’s caused by a lack of melanin which is what melanoma is partially made of. Therefore, the loss of melanin is a sign of the medicine working.

          I’ve heard of the same thing happening on ipi/nivo to differing effects but my condition has not gotten any worse on ipi/nivo. My fingers are crossed that it doesn’t mean the medicine isn’t working on me.

          Hope that helps.

            • January 1, 2019 at 7:08 am
            lkb
            Participant

              Thanks, aldrichdesigner! Never thought I'd hear myself say I wanted white hair, but, well, here I am.

            • December 31, 2018 at 4:00 am
            Bubbles
            Participant

              Because melanoma sucks and nothings is 100% – we can't be certain about much – but vitiligo (white patches on the skin, leading to white hair in areas affected) while on immunotherapy is an excellent prognostic sign.

              Here are lots of articles – https://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/search?q=vitiligo  

              Congrats!  c

                • January 1, 2019 at 7:10 am
                lkb
                Participant

                  Thank you, Celeste! I'm cautiously optimistic. Much appreciate the links. 

                • December 31, 2018 at 2:40 pm
                Gene_S
                Participant

                  My husband did not take a combo but was on Ipi and when his eyebrows started turning white the onc said that was definitely a good sign.  His head of dark brown hair did not change.  He then got vitiligo on his face and neck in patches and some of his beard is white and some remained dark.  He became NED.

                  He started his clinical trial with Ipi 10 mg/kg (Yervoy) and GMCSF in March of 2011 andwas NED in July 2012 and has remained NED for  over 6 years.

                  Judy the loving wife of Gene

                   

                    • January 1, 2019 at 7:12 am
                    lkb
                    Participant

                      Thanks, Judy! Hooray for Gene's NED.

                    • December 31, 2018 at 8:25 pm
                    GeoTony
                    Participant

                      Hi,

                      My eyebrows, eyelashes and beard have all turned white, sometime after my second Ipi/nivo dose, back in Feb 2017, I also developed mild vitiligo on my arms, my Oncologist was very happy. My hair hasn't changed colour, but it did thicken up confirmed by my barber who didn't know I had cancer and wanted to know what I'd been applying to my scalp. Currently stable and ticking along.

                        • January 1, 2019 at 7:16 am
                        lkb
                        Participant

                          Thank you, Tony. Have not seen any skin vitiligo yet. Funny about the barber! Soon he'll be asking you to score him some Nivo. Congrats on your stability.

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