A MAN’S eyelashes became overgrown and curly because of cancer treatment, medics have revealed.
The Spaniard’s lashes developed a dramatic curl as a side effect of chemotherapy for bowel cancer.
Doctors in Spain said he had drug-induced trichomegaly, which can cause eyelashes to grow up to half an inch.
Dr Laura Paz, of Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Ferrol, said: “Typically, it appears within the initial months of treatment and resolves when discontinued.
“If necessary, trimming the eyelashes is recommended to prevent misdirection of eyelashes, which may lead to ocular complications, such as corneal erosions or ulcers.”
Bowel cancer is now the third most common cancer in Britain, with 41,596 Brits diagnosed in 2021.
Trichomegaly is a rare disorder where the normal features of eyelashes — length, colour, thickness or curling —- change.
This can be caused by a range of things, including other illnesses like HIV, genetic anomalies or medications.
The man’s case, published in JAMA Dermatology, was caused by a chemotherapy drug called panitumumab.
The drug causes skin issues in around 80 per cent of patients and is known to affect growth and texture of hair, including eye lashes.
He came to the hospital’s dermatology department because of a severe acne “eruption” on his chest and back.
Doctors also noticed the effect of of the drug on his eyelashes while examining him and diagnosed him with “severe acneiform eruption and drug-induced trichomegaly”.
They gave him antibiotic pills and topical corticosteroids and antifungals, which reduced the acne.
He was also given detailed instructions to trim his eyelashes safely.
Trichomegaly is usually harmless but can cause eyelashes to grow in the wrong direction towards the eyeball.
This can damage the outer layer of the eye and lead to ulcers, vision loss and blindness in severe cases.
Drug-induced trichomegaly usually occurs in the first few months of starting treatment and disappears after people stop taking their medication.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a way to kill cancer cells – using cytotoxic drugs.
It circulates throughout the body in the bloodstream so it can treat cancer cells almost anywhere.
It can be given as a main treatment, or after other treatments to shrink a cancer before surgery or radiotherapy, or to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.
It is usually administered by IV, injection or tablets.
Chemotherapy works well for testicular cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma, according to CRUK.
Many people with breast or bowel cancer have chemotherapy after surgery to help lower the chances of it returning.
There are more than 100 different chemotherapy drugs, each with various potential side effects.
Generally, this includes hair loss, breathlessness, pale skin, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, dry skin and memory changes.