Stage 4 cancer patientNatasha Allenwent viral on social media after sharing a little-known but life-changing side effect of thetreatmentshe’s been receiving.

Diagnosed in July 2020, Allen shared she has noticed herskingettinglighterafter taking a certainmedication.

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Natasha Allen said people thought she was biracial after her skin started lightening

Stage 4 cancer patient Natasha Allen smiling outdoors wearing a blue shirt and a nasal cannula.

Image credits:natashaallen

Natasha Allen with glasses discussing melanin loss impacts in two emotional video frames.

Image credits:possiblynatasha

HighlightsNatasha Allen shared she was losing melanin after using a cancer medication.People called her biracial after her skin started lightening.Allen is battling stage 4 cancer, and she was diagnosed in 2021.

As a 28-year-old Black woman who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, Allen, to her surprise, shared that her skin is losing melanin. Saying that this was a side effect she was not expecting, Allen added that people thought she was biracial.

Inthe videothat has amassed more than 740,000 views, Allen said, “When you have lost so much melanin, people accuse you of beingbiracial.” She captioned her video, “No, I am not mixed. no, I am not Latina. no, I am not Asian. I have 4 Black grandparents.Cancermedications can change your phenotype.”

Allen said her skin hypopigmentation started after she began taking a cancer medication

Natasha Allen in a dark dress standing on staircase, smiling.

She also shared that her skin hypopigmentation (discoloration) started as a minor issue in 2022 while she was undergoing a different treatment, Lenvima with Keytruda, which led to vitiligo on her hands and feet. However, in July 2024, a month after she started taking another drug named Votrient, she started losing melanin on her face.

The 28-year-old shared that coming to terms with her new appearance “has been hard”

In addition to the change in her skin pigmentation, Allen said she experienced sun sensitivity and severe rashes on her legs and arms. What’s more, the young woman shared that the medication also had a mental impact on her well-being.

“It has been hard mentally to reconcile my new appearance with the view I have of myself. It is quite dysphoric, and it was annoying too when I realized none of my concealers or foundations matched,” Allen said of herlightening skin.

“I find that a lot of people don’t know all the side effects of cancer, let alone what the experience is like,” she said. About her social media posts, she explained, “I share my story, good or bad, to raise awareness and hopefully that will result in more funding and research.”

The cancer medication Votrient affects hair color and skin pigmentation

Natasha Allen with stage 4 cancer showing melanin loss, wearing medical cap and mask, giving a thumbs up in a hospital setting.

Allen shared in a previous video that she was diagnosed with stage 4 synovial sarcoma, a rare and aggressive type of soft tissue cancer that is mainly seen between the ages of 15 and 35. While cancer is challenging at stage 4, some treatments, including surgery, radiation therapy, andchemotherapycan help the patients.

Votrient is another treatment used to cure the cancer. According to theNational Library of Medicine, Votrient, also known as pazopanib, can affect melanin production in patients. The research states that hair color change and skin hypopigmentation are among the most common side effects of the treatment.

Allen’s video quickly went viral. Stunning viewers, many users were perplexed to learn that acancer treatmentcould result in such a unique effect.

Other users who couldn’t believe the side effect shared: “Wow, I never knew that this kind of thing happened with cancer medication,” and “I had no idea this was even possible. What a nightmare. I’m so sorry.”

Online users were quick to comment on the unique side effect Allen is experiencing

Comment showing support for a Black woman with stage 4 cancer experiencing melanin loss.

Comment on melanin loss and cancer, praising resilience.

Comment from a user named Dakota expressing support for a woman with melanin loss, saying she looks lovely before and after.

Comment expressing sympathy for a Black woman with cancer, discussing her melanin loss and the painful process.

Comment by SoooHeaven supporting a Black woman with cancer, expressing admiration and love.

Comment complimenting Black woman with Stage 4 cancer on her appearance.

Comment from JasmineJ supporting a Black woman with stage 4 cancer.

Comment praising a black woman with stage 4 cancer, highlighting her beauty throughout her journey.

Comment saying “Omg you changed” related to melanin loss and stage 4 cancer.

Comment showing support and positivity for a Black woman with stage 4 cancer experiencing melanin loss.

Supportive message for a Black woman with stage 4 cancer documenting melanin loss; user expresses surprise and well-wishes.

Comment supporting woman with stage 4 cancer experiencing melanin loss.

Comment on melanin loss in a post by a Black woman with cancer, showing 37 likes.

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