QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR
> Where has the UM spread? > Do I need additional scans to determine the extent of the disease? > Have you tested for genetic mutations? How will this affect treatment? > Do you recommend liver-directed therapy or systemic therapy? > Can different treatments be combined? > Should I consider clinical trials? If so, which ones? > What are the side effects of each treatment? > Do I have to travel for the treatment or can I receive it close to home? > How will this diagnosis and the treatment affect my day-to-day life? > If I choose no treatment for my metastatic disease, what is my life expectancy? > Do I need scans on a regular basis? If so, what type of scans do you recommend? > What should my follow-up plan be? > Will I be able to continue my normal daily life? > Should I seek a second opinion?
METASTATIC UM
What do I need to know?
Treatment of Metastatic UM If UM has spread beyond the eye, it is considered metastatic . Approximately half of UM patients will develop metastatic disease, although each person’s individual risk is based on factors such as tumor genetics and other clinical characteristics. When UM metastasizes, it first spreads to the liver nearly 90% of the time. It is important to note that the treatment of uveal melanoma can be very different from that of cutaneous melanoma. While some treatments are used both in cutaneous melanoma and UM, the diseases are very different. It is important for your treatment team to understand the differences. Although there are currently no FDA-approved treatments for metastatic UM, clinical trials exploring a variety of treatment options are emerging all the time. Visit www.melanoma.org to find an ocular melanoma specialist who can discuss all possible treatment options with you, including clinical trials.
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