These questions can help guide your discussion with your treatment team.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor: Primary OM INFORMED AND EMPOWERED OCULAR MELANOMA PATIENTS LIVE LONGER, BETTER LIVES.
Treatment-Related Questions
Primary Eye Tumor-Related Questions
• What are my treatment options and what are the differences? • Which treatment do you think is best for me? Why? • What are the different outcomes of these treatments? • What are the side effects of each treatment? How will these impact my day-to-day life?
• What is ocular melanoma and how is it different from cutaneous (skin) melanoma? • What are the dimensions of the tumor? What do they mean for treatment?
• Can I receive a written report with this information?
• Is ocular melanoma staged like other cancers? What stage am I? • Will you do a biopsy of the tumor? Why/Why not? What will be learned from the biopsy? What are the risks of doing a biopsy? • Will you test my tumor for genetic mutations? How do mutations affect treatment options?
• What types of radiation treatments do you offer?
• Do I need to have my eye removed?
• How many OM patients have you treated?
• How will my vision be affected? Is there a medicine or a shot that could help?
• Should I speak with a genetic counselor?
• If vision loss is expected, when will it occur?
• What is my risk of metastatic (spreading) disease?
• Is losing one’s sight painful? Will there be flashes of light or blind spots? Will I be disabled? Can I drive?
• How will you determine if the cancer has spread?
• Should I get a second opinion?
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