I am sharing my story publicly because I want to bring awareness to this silent killer. If you are like me, you never even heard of ocular melanoma before.
My tumor was first detected as part of a routine eye exam, at Visionworks in Bel Mar, where I have gone for a few years. Dr. Katie Sider used a non-dilating camera system called Optomap. The ultra-wide digital retinal imaging system captures more than 80% of your retina in one panoramic image. This image enhances your eye doctor's ability to detect even the earliest sign of disease that appears on your retina. She compared the image with one I had taken two years ago, and immediately referred me to a retina specialist.
I urge every person of every age to get an annual eye exam with dilation and/or Optomap from an ophthalmologist or optometrist to see deep inside the eye. Even if you don't need glasses, you need a thorough eye exam by an ophthamologist. Make an annual eye exam a regular habit, just like a dental visit, a mammogram, or a physical. It could save your life.
Six in a million people per year. I am now one of these, diagnosed with ocular melanoma (OM). This is a very rare, aggressive cancer.
I am in the care of a highly regarded specialist, an ocular oncologist at Porter Hospital, Dr. Peter Hovland. There are only two specialists in Colorado. His diagnosis is that I have a medium-sized choroidal melanoma in my left eye.
We agreed that the best treatment is to have radiation in my eye, called plaque brachytherapy. It requires two surgeries. The first to sew a small gold disc containing radioactive seeds into my eye, will be done on Friday, November 2. I will come home, with a lead shield over my eye. On November 7, I will go back to have it removed. I don't expect I will lose vision right away, but there are often long-term complications from exposure to radiation.
At the time of insertion, they will do a biopsy. This will be used for genetic testing. They will tell me if the cancer is Class 1 or Class 2. Class 1 has a low risk of metastases (spreading to other organs) and Class 2 - high risk. There will be different schedules of surveillance depending on the results. I won't know the genetic results until mid-December.
I had a PET/ CT scan of my entire body, and it shows no detectable tumors that have metastasized. There is about a 50% chance of it spreading in the next 10 years. The cancer most commonly metastasizes to the liver or lungs first.
I will be monitored by CT scans, MRI's, blood tests and X-rays for the rest of my life. They will begin measurements to see if the tumor has shrunk about 3 months after the surgery.
Skin melanoma and ocular melanoma are distinct conditions which share the same name but are biologically and genetically very different diseases. Although there have been advances in skin melanoma treatments, there are no recent developments that have shown any significant improvement for ocular (or uveal) melanoma. There is more detailed information in this link----> OM
I am at peace that I am getting the best care available, and I have a great support network of family and friends. Thank you all.
