Eye Cancer

Talking often with the doctor is important to make informed decisions about your health care. These suggested questions are a starting point to help you learn more about your cancer care and treatment. You are also encouraged to ask additional questions that are important to you.

General questions:

• What type of eye cancer do I have?
• Where exactly is the tumor located?
• What stage is the cancer? What does this mean?
• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?
• Do you recommend any additional diagnostic tests, such as cytogenetics or gene expression profiling?
• Who can help me interpret the results of this test(s)?
• Do I need treatment right away?
• What experience do you have in treating patients with uveal melanoma?
• What are my treatment options?
• What is the likelihood that the cancer is metastatic?
• What clinical trials are open to me?
• Who will be part of my health care team, and what does each member do?
• Who will be coordinating my overall treatment and follow-up care?
• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?
• What is the goal of each treatment?
• What are the possible side effects of this treatment, both in the short term and the long term?
• How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?
• Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
• Could this treatment affect my ability to become pregnant or have children? If so, should I talk with a fertility specialist before cancer treatment begins?
• If I'm worried about managing the costs related to my cancer care, who can help me with these concerns?

For patients who need surgery:

• What type of surgery do you recommend? Why?
• What are the side effects of my surgery?
• Will I need to stay in the hospital for this surgery? For how long?
• Will I have problems with my vision afterwards, either immediately or in the long term?

For patients who need an eye removed:

• How do I adjust to only having one eye?
• How long will it take me to recover physically?
• What rehabilitation services are available?
• How soon can I get a prosthesis (artificial eye)?
• When do I get a permanent prosthesis?
• How do I care for my prosthesis?

For patients who need radiation therapy:

• What kind of radiation therapy will I receive?
• What does the preparation for this treatment involve?
• What is the likelihood of having radiation damage to my eye?
• What is the risk of vision loss?
• What other side effects can I expect from this treatment?
• What can be done to treat the side effects?

After treatment:

• What are the chances that the cancer will return?
• What follow-up tests do I need, and how often do I need them?
• What support services are available to me? To my family?
• Whom do I call for problems?