Treatment For Eye Cancer
After treatment for eye cancer, you have regular check ups at the hospital. This is also called surveillance. You also have tests, including blood tests, x-rays and scans. Over time, these appointments become less frequent.
You usually have follow up appointments to check how you are. And to see whether you have any problems or worries. The appointments also give you the chance to raise any concerns you have about your progress.
How often you see your specialist depends on:
how you are feeling
the type of treatment you have had
your situation
You will have regular follow ups after treatment for eye cancer.
You usually have follow up appointments every 6 months if you’ve had treatment to cure your eye melanoma. This continues for 2 to 5 years. After 5 years, you usually have follow up yearly, depending on your situation.
Your follow up may be different if there is a high risk that your eye melanoma may spread to the liver. Your doctor will discuss with you whether this applies to you and give you more information.
Your doctor or nurse examines your eye at each appointment. They ask how you are feeling, whether you have had any symptoms or side effects, and if you are worried about anything. You can also ask questions, it often helps to write these down to take with you. Your check ups may include:
eye examinations
blood tests
x-rays or scans, such as ultrasound of your eye or MRI scans
lumbar puncture (only for lymphoma of the eye)
You will not have all of these tests at every visit to your specialist.
If your doctor thinks that there is a risk of your eye melanoma spreading to another part of your body, you may have regular ultrasound scans of your abdomen. If you have any new symptoms, you might have some tests to look into this.
Contact your doctor or specialist nurse if you have any concerns between appointments. You should also contact them if you notice any new symptoms. You don’t have to wait until your next visit.
Many people find their follow up appointments quite worrying. A hospital appointment can bring back any anxiety you had about your cancer.
It can help to tell someone close to you how you’re feeling. Sharing your worries can mean they don’t seem so overwhelming. Many people find it helpful to have counselling during or after cancer treatment.
Read about counselling and how to find a counsellor
You can also find people to share experiences with by using our online forum, CancerChat.
Last reviewed: 13 Jan 2025
Next review due: 13 Jan 2028
Your treatment depends on several factors. These include what type of eye cancer you have, how big it is and whether it has spread (the stage). It also depends on your general health.
There is support available for you and your family during and after treatment for eye cancer.
Survival depends on many factors including the stage and type of your eye cancer.
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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