Treatment of the Primary Tumor The goals of treating the primary tumor are to stop tumor growth, spare the eye, preserve vision and improve patient survival. Treatment most often involves radiation therapy (such as plaque brachytherapy or proton beam), sometimes combined with surgery if necessary. The exact approach depends on the size and location of the tumor, the patient’s overall health and other individual factors.
Something to consider
A melanoma diagnosis of any kind is never easy .
Patients who have been diagnosed with UM often feel a variety of emotions ranging from denial to anger. A UM diagnosis can be especially difficult. You may find yourself continuously wondering whether or not your melanoma has spread, or will spread, to other places in your body. Know that these feelings and emotions are normal. Meeting others, joining support groups and learning about this disease may help you during this difficult time.
Radiation
For most small and medium-sized tumors, radiation is the recommended treatment. Both plaque brachytherapy and proton beam radiotherapy have high rates of tumor control; the choice often depends on the tumor’s size, location and the availability of specialized treatment centers.
The different types of radiation therapy include: 1 PLAQUE BRACHYTHERAPY (RADIOTHERAPY)
A thin piece of metal, called a plaque, is sewn onto the outside wall of the eye. The plaque contains radioactive seeds (often iodine-125 or ruthenium-106), which give off radiation that aims to kill the tumor. The treatment usually lasts a few days and the plaque is removed at the end of treatment. This is the most common therapy in the United States for posterior (choroidal and ciliary body) ocular melanoma and is considered the standard of care for most UM patients with small or medium-sized tumors. After this treatment, removal of the eye is not usually necessary, and many patients, depending on the tumor location, are able to retain some degree of visual function. 2 PROTON BEAM RADIOTHERAPY
Clips are surgically placed onto the eye at the tumor base and an external beam of radiation is aimed at the tumor, most often through the front of the eye. This approach is sometimes preferred for tumors near the optic nerve or in locations where plaque placement is challenging. Treatment is usually finished after 3–5 daily outpatient treatments.
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