Getting Diagnosed With Eye Cancer
Your doctor might examine your eye cancer to test for abnormalities of the in the cancer cells. This is called cytogenetic testing.
Chromosomes are found in the centre of all cells. They are made of millions of .
Cytogenetic testing gives doctors information about how your cancer is likely to behave. For example, it tells them the chances of your cancer coming back or spreading. Your doctor or specialist nurse will talk to you about this and ask if you would like to know this type of information.
This might help doctors plan your follow up care after treatment. For example, people at high risk of the cancer coming back may have more or different scans compared to people who have a low risk of the cancer coming back. At the moment, information about the genetics of your tumour doesn't affect what treatment you have, but it may in the future.
The genetics of your cancer does not necessarily mean that other members of the family are affected, but your doctor will explain more about this.
Your surgeon might ask a specialist doctor (pathologist) to examine the cancer after they remove it. They look for abnormalities of the chromosomes in the cancer cells.
Your doctor might now suggest they take a sample (biopsy) of the cancer for cytogenetic testing. If you have a biopsy, you usually have it during or shortly before radiotherapy.
Your doctor will talk to you about the risks and benefits of having a biopsy.
Read more about having a biopsy of the eye
You will have to wait to get the results.
Waiting for results can make you anxious. Ask your doctor or nurse how long it will take to get them. Contact the doctor who arranged the test if you haven’t heard anything after a couple of weeks.
You might have contact details for a specialist nurse and you can contact them for information if you need to. It may help to talk to a close friend or relative about how you feel.
Last reviewed: 25 Nov 2024
Next review due: 25 Nov 2027
You usually have a number of tests to diagnose eye cancer. The tests you might have include an eye examination and a test to look at the blood vessels in your eye (fluorescein angiogram).
Your GP or optometrist will ask you about your symptoms, and they might examine you. They may arrange tests or a referral to a specialist.
Eye cancer includes different types of cancer. The type of cancer you have depends on the type of cell it starts in.
Eye cancer includes different types of cancer. The type of eye cancer you have depends on the type of cell it starts in. There are different parts of the eye, and some of these are more likely to get cancer than others.
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