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Treatment Options for Eye melanoma in Foreign Clinics
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Introduction
Patients with melanoma of the eye are more frequently diagnosed these days. This condition is caused by many factors including age, exposure to UV rays and sometimes genetic modifications. Out of 1 million people, only five to six people, annually are diagnosed with melanoma in the eye. (Source: raradiseases.com). Melanoma of eye survival rate in five year is 82%. (Source: cancer.net)
What is melanoma of the eye?
Melanin producing cellular units in eye can have a cancer named as ocular melanoma. Melanoma eye cancer can develop due to mutations in composition of DNA in normal cells of eye. Due to this mistake in DNA, abnormal growth of eye cells occur leading to eye malignant melanoma. Almost 2500 people suffer from melanoma eye cancer annually in USA. (Source: raradiseases.com). This cancer is mostly detected in advanced stages because it is mostly formed in invisible eye parts. You can seek treatment of melanoma of eye after noticing symptoms of melanoma in your eye and your eyesight will not be effected after seeking treatment in initial stage of melanoma of the eye. If disease is in its advanced stage then blindness can occur even after seeking treatment. If you ponder over that How common is melanoma of the eye then you should know that this is not common and is very rare type of eye cancer. Symptoms of eye melanoma include Shape of pupil is changed, Blurred vision, Dark spot grows on iris and Sense of flashing of the eye.
The above mentioned symptoms are commonly experienced melanoma eye symptoms by patients and on the basis of these symptoms, doctors ask patients to go for diagnostic tests for melanoma of the eye and later on disease is detected.
Causes
These factors cause melanoma of eye;
- Age
- Some genetic changes
- UV light exposure
- Heredity diseases of skin
- White color of skin
Stages
Out of 4 stages of melanoma of the eye, the cancer is not spread in surrounding lymph nodes and other body parts in first 3 stages but in 4th stage of melanoma of eye, cancer is spread beyond eye ball, it spreads in surrounding lymph nodes and other portions of the body. Melanoma of the eye is detected in 73% of people in its early stage and 85% is its survival rate for 5 years (Source: cancer.com). If eye melanoma of eye has spread to distant part of body then 5 years survival rate is 13% and if eye melanoma has reached to regional lymph nodes then 5 year survival rate is 71%. Staging eye melanoma is very crucial because it helps doctors to identify risk associated with the tumor by its magnitude and position inside body of the patient and treatment is also planned according to the condition and stage of the diseases.
Melanoma in the eye Prognosis
The prognosis of eye cancer tells about treatment options like which is the stage and location of cancer. If cancer is present in extraocular lymphoma then its prognosis is better than tumor in intraocular lymphoma. Iris melanoma has slow progress and greater than 95 percent people with iris melanoma can survive 5 years (Source: cancer.org). The 5 year survival rate for small, medium and large melanoma is 84%, 68% and 47% respectively (Source: cancer.net). If eye melanoma has not reached outside the eye then it has better prognosis. If size of tumor is small and has less number of mitotic division then it has better prognosis. Less genetic and chromosomal modifications also lead to better malignant melanoma eye prognosis.
Diagnosis
Melanoma of the eye is diagnosed with following tests;
- Examination of eye
- Ultrasound of eye
- Biopsy
- Angiogram
Biopsy
Suspected tissue is eliminated by inserting thin needle inside eye so that eye melanoma can be detected after laboratory testing of sample.
Ultrasound of eye
Pictures of eyes are taken by utilizing sound waves of high frequency that travel through eyes.
Angiogram
Small blood vessels inside eyes are seen by angiogram for detecting eye melanoma by inserting fluorescein dye into vein of hand or arm.
Examination of eye
Eye specialist perform eye examination for diagnosing vision and other problems of eye.
Melanoma eye cancer treatment
Radiation Therapy
When size of tumor is medium or small then high energy beams are used to kill cells of cancer in malignant melanoma eye tumor. Brachytherapy is done in which radioactive plaque is placed directly on cancer on patient’s eye and radiation is delivered. In teletherapy radiation is directed by a machine to patient’s eye.
This melanoma eye cancer treatment is used in certain situations to kill melanoma cells and thermotherapy uses infrared laser to kill cancerous cells of the eye.
Eye melanoma surgery
In eye melanoma surgery, either small cancerous portion of eye or complete eye is surgically eliminated. If size of cancer is small then melanoma in eye and normal tissue that is surrounding melanoma is eliminated surgically but if size of eye cancer is of larger size then complete eye is surgically eliminated.
Cold treatments
Cryotherapy is rarely utilized to destroy small ocular melanoma of the eye.
Photodynamic therapy
Medicine is combined with specific light wavelength for destroying small melanoma of the eye.
Treatment of melanoma of eye in Turkey
Turkey is recognized worldwide for its best medical services. The medical staff is well trained and outcomes of disease treatment is commendable.
This hospital was established in the year 2000 and the number of beds available for treatment of patients is 292. The medical staff is highly skilled in Memorial hospital. International standards are followed strictly in Memorial hospitals. Patients who choose to seek treatment from Memorial hospital come from almost 90 countries of the world. New True Beam STx that involves radiotherapy and chemotherapy that destroys cancer and does not destroy normal tissues is utilized in Memorial hospital Turkey.
95% of success rate is obtained after eye melanoma treatment.
- Dr. Emin Gokhan is working as Ophthalmologist and has an experience of almost 2 decades.
Hisar Intercontinental Hospital
This hospital was established in the year 2005. The number of beads available in this hospital are 212. This is interdisciplinary hospital in Turkey. Hisar intercontinental hospital specializes in treatment of cancer. Patients from many countries chose Hisar Intercontinental hospital for treatment of melanoma of the eye. JCI has certified this hospital.
95% of rate of success is obtained after treatment from this hospital.
- Dr. Omer Kamil is working as Ophthalmologist and has an experience of almost 25 years.
This hospital was established in 2013. The number of patients who seek treatment from this hospital is 13200. 320 doctors are working in this hospital and 154 beds are available. ISO and JCI have approved this hospital. Smart medicine is used as new treatment of cancer in Liv hospital. Cold cap therapy is also utilized in Liv hospital during chemotherapy for reducing loss of hair. 93% of success rate is obtained.
- Dr. Duygu Derin is working as Ophthalmologist and has experience of almost 2 decades.
Treatment of melanoma of eye in Germany
Many people from all over the world visit Germany for seeking treatment from world. Best results are obtained after treatment of melanoma of eye in Germany.
Multidisciplinary team of doctors are working in this hospital and recent technologies are used in this hospital for treatment of melanoma of eye. PET scan and Imaging tests are available for diagnostic purpose. The best outcomes are obtained after treatment of eye melanoma from Munich University hospital from Germany. 90% of rate of success is obtained.
- Volker Heinemann is one of the best doctor and is working in department of ophthalmology and has an experience of almost 2 decades.
Other top hospitals for eye melanoma treatment in Germany are;
Treatment of melanoma of eye in Spain
Newest technology is used in Spain by interdisciplinary team of doctors in Spain and commendable results of treatments are obtained.
Quironsalud Hospitals
One of the largest hospitals in Spain. Recent equipment and technology for diagnostic purpose such as CT scan, MRI scan and PET tests are available in this hospital. Minimally invasive surgery is done in this hospital for treatment purpose. 95% of success rate is obtained.
Other leading hospitals for eye melanoma treatment in Spain are;
Cost of Treatment Procedures for Melanoma of the eye Abroad
| Turkey | Germany | Spain | |
| Specialist consultation | $150 | €440 | $400 |
| Laser treatment | $550 | $1600 | $1400 |
| Eye melanoma surgery | $3000 | $9800 | $8900 |
If you need any help regarding treatment for melanoma of the eye, leave us an application, and we will help you in management of your treatment overseas.
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