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Eye cancer is a very rare form of the disease. Primary eye cancer is diagnosed when cancerous cells originate in the eye. One needs to be aware of this cancer as the symptoms start showing in only the latter stages. Regular visits to your eye specialist is paramount as effective treatment has a higher success rate when detected at the initial stages.
Tumors in the eye and orbit can be benign like dermoid cysts, or malignant like rhabdomyosarcoma and retinoblastoma. Since eye cancer is one of the rarest types of cancer, many scientists research to discover the responsible factors for eye cancer. Eye cancer research includes updating new information and treatment and therapies.
Genetics plays a vital role in the diagnosis and detection of the condition. Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are the genes that check or regulate the growth of our cells. Oncogenes look after the growth or multiplication of cells whereas tumor suppressor genes kill the older cells. As we go through the definition of cancer, we can say that genes are one of the factors that can cause eye cancer. This identification of the gene changes is one of the active researches going on in the field. In family history, new generations have a far higher risk of developing cancer if their parents have had it.
Since, changes in the genetic function of genes, such as oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes cause cancer, new drugs that target these genetic changes are now being developed. They are documented as having less severe side-effects than those of chemotherapy for example. However their safety is debatable and the side-effects can be severe.
The immune system is the body's own defense system. White Blood Cells kill any foreign viruses or bacteria. Monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, vaccines and other immuno-therapies are also one of the best approaches towards treating eye cancer but can also treat lymphoma and melanoma.
Facts:
In a North American survey conducted recently it reveals that 325 children were diagnosed with eye cancer and 95% of people got cured with treatment. The success rate exceeded 95% only when the cancer was diagnosed early. The treatment and cure for eye cancer is selected depending upon the age of the person, medical history of the person, size of the tumor, how far the tumor has grown and the general health of the patient.
As far as treatment is concerned, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery and laser surgery are options that are now extensively chosen.
- Surgery will remove the tumor. If the tumor has spread to most of the parts of the eyes and there is no other option to prevent the metastases of cancer then removal of the entire eye is also considered. This is enucleation.
- Radiation therapy is commonly used to treat cancer of all types not just the eye. This treatment can save your eye. The problem is that radiotherapy is effective for small eye melanoma or medium sized eye melanomas. Internal radiotherapy and external radiotherapy are two types of radiotherapy. In external radiotherapy procedure, rays are directed onto the tumor. This helps in saving other normal cells. Usually, surgery is followed by radiotherapy.
- Chemotherapy is normally used to treat eye lymphomas. This relies on drugs to kill off the cancerous cells. Side-effects of this therapy include hair loss, mouth ulcers or a sore mouth, reduced red blood count and feelings of exhaustion and nausea.
- Laser surgery is effective but only in treating small eye melanomas.
Your optician or opthalmic consultant will best advise on treatment and side effects.