Just Diagnosed With Ocular Melanoma… Now What?
An ocular melanoma (OM) diagnosis can be a scary and overwhelming experience, and it’s important to learn all you can about your diagnosis. The truth is, informed and empowered patients live longer, better lives. By arming yourself with knowledge, you’ll better understand what you’re up against. Soon, you will likely know more about melanoma than you ever thought possible. You will become familiar with terms and language you never knew before. You will understand the importance of regular skin exams, eye exams, the difference between an optometrist and ophthalmologist and even advances in melanoma research. As a result of all of this knowledge, you may even help prevent someone you love from receiving a melanoma diagnosis. This is not a community anyone wants to join. However, it is important to know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. At the end of this section, you will find ideas on how to connect with others who have been diagnosed and, if you’d like, ways to get involved in the fight against this disease.
Nearly 2,000 Americans are diagnosed with ocular melanoma each year. A dilated eye exam is the best way to diagnose and catch ocular melanoma in its early stages.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
> In the U.S. it is estimated that approximately 2,000 new ocular melanoma cases are diagnosed each year. > Ocular melanoma is the most common primary tumor of the eye in adults. > Although OM is more common in Caucasian men with light-colored eyes, it does not discriminate by age, race or gender. Everyone is at risk.
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