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Intraocular melanoma is a relatively rare kind of cancer, but it can be deadly. Cancerous cells show up in the uvea - a particular part of the eye. The uvea includes the colored part of the eye, as well as some of the muscles and other tissue. This kind of cancer can affect vision, and might spread into other parts of the body, eventually being fatal.
Let's look at this disease and what can be done about it. Like any other kind of cancer, it's important to learn as much as you can and treat it early. Here's what you should know.
The cells that are affected in this kind of eye melanoma are called melanocytes. These cells include color, and work just like melanocytes in other parts of the body, even though there are no moles or freckles here. Eye Melanoma
That can make it harder to find out that you have this cancer until serious problems start to show up. Learning the symptoms of this disease can help you catch it earlier.
Melanoma in the iris might look like a dark spot on the colored part of the eye. Melanoma of the muscles or other tissues might cause blurry vision, or it might not be easy to find at all.
Most people find this kind of cancer during an examination by their eye doctor. The special lights and tools an eye doctors use allow them to see the mass of the tumor.
Tests will be done after this kind of eye cancer is discovered. This process is called staging, and helps you and your doctor plan treatment. The chance of being cured depends on a number of things, including where the cancer is, whether it has spread, and how large the tumor is.
Staging is a little different for eye melanoma than it is for regular skin cancer. It's done based on the size of the tumor and also where in the eye the cancer is found.
The melanoma will usually grow slowly if it is in the iris. This kind of cancer doesn't normally spread to other parts of the body.
Ciliary body and Choroidal Melanoma happen at the back of the eye, and are more dangerous. If this kind of eye melanoma goes untreated, it might eventually spread into the nerve behind the eye, the eye socket, or the skin outside the eye. It can also move to other parts of the body, including vital organs Ciliary and Choroidal Melanoma This is how eye melanoma can end up being fatal.
There are several different ways to treat this kind of cancer. Which one is used depends on:
Iris melanoma is sometimes not treated at all. Instead, doctors watch the tumor to make sure it doesn't get any bigger. If it does, the tumor or the eye might be removed. Internal radiation treatment with implants is also sometimes used.
This kind of radiation treatment is also used for tumors at the back of the eye. Regular radiation treatment and surgery are also used. Some people also have laser treatments done to help them cure their tumors. Bigger cancers are more likely to require the doctor to remove the eye. If the tumor has spread, then surgery and radiation therapy is used.
The bad news is that we don't have a treatment for the whole body when this kind of melanoma has spread to other locations. Radiation and chemotherapy might be used.
Age, health and other factors will be used to decide on the right treatment if the cancer comes back after it has been removed once. Many people with this kind of cancer decide to take part in clinical trials because of the limits of regular treatments.
Melanoma of the eye is a serious condition but it can be treated if you catch it early. If you don't, it could cause you to lose your eye, or it could even be deadly.
This is one reason that people with light eyes should be sure to have their eyes checked as they get older. This way, you can catch cancer before it can become a problem. Just one eye exam could make a big difference.
"This website is for all skin cancer patients, their families and friends. I want people to know that they can overcome this disease by learning what to do, where to go for great medical help, how to deal with insurance and all the other problems facing them.
I have worked with some great people to make this web site easy to understand and devoted to helping you. Please let me know if anything doesn't help you or if we can do something more that would be useful to you.
The most important factor in a person getting healthy is their personal determination and their will to be better. You have to summon that determination and then take the steps described here - we are here to help and support you."
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