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what effects does uveal melanoma have on the body?
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what effects does uveal melanoma have on the body?

› Forums › Ocular Melanoma Community › what effects does uveal melanoma have on the body?

  • Post
    • September 24, 2014 at 2:51 am
    crane14
    Participant
      I was diagnosed 9/19 with uveal melanoma. The doctor wants to do the full check up and tests to see if its spread. But we noticed the tumor (or my husband did) late may. It went from non existant (atleast that WE could see) to pretty big over night. I waited until august before having it looked at (I dont like jumping to conclusions and freaking out right away). From late may to today its about tripled in size. Doc says its taken over about 40% of the eye.

      Anyways. My question is if its spread to other parts of my body (or even if it hasnt spread) what tolls could I notice it taking on my body? Example like overly tired. My menstrual cycle is very off and has been lasting twice as long as my normal cycles. My joints hurt (mainly knees). But im most annoyed with the period. Is this something I should bring up to my cancer specialist and ask if he can check out hormone levels when he does the other tests (like if he says its not associated with the cancer in any way)? Should I see my regular family doctor? My concern with that was she will be clueless as to what may or may not be cancer related…

      Has any one else expierenced anything similar?

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        • October 8, 2014 at 4:42 am
        joelcairo
        Participant

          Sorry for the delay responding. This forum isn't that busy and I don't come here that often. There are several other UM forums you can probably find easily enough using Google.

          Anyway, uveal melanoma usually spreads first to the liver (~90% of the time), and liver metastases usually take quite a long time before their presence can be detected from their symptoms. Your oncologist should make sure you are receiving abdominal MRIs, or at the very minimum ultrasounds, on a regular basis.

          Also, it's an interesting fact that the vast majority of patients don't have visible mets at the time that their eye cancer is discovered and treated. There are a few different possible explanations for this, but the end result is that you probably don't need to worry too much about periods or aches and pains. You might bring up anything unusual with your doctors, but there's no need to brood over them because they're unlikely to be significant.

           

          • October 8, 2014 at 4:42 am
          joelcairo
          Participant

            Sorry for the delay responding. This forum isn't that busy and I don't come here that often. There are several other UM forums you can probably find easily enough using Google.

            Anyway, uveal melanoma usually spreads first to the liver (~90% of the time), and liver metastases usually take quite a long time before their presence can be detected from their symptoms. Your oncologist should make sure you are receiving abdominal MRIs, or at the very minimum ultrasounds, on a regular basis.

            Also, it's an interesting fact that the vast majority of patients don't have visible mets at the time that their eye cancer is discovered and treated. There are a few different possible explanations for this, but the end result is that you probably don't need to worry too much about periods or aches and pains. You might bring up anything unusual with your doctors, but there's no need to brood over them because they're unlikely to be significant.

             

            • October 8, 2014 at 4:42 am
            joelcairo
            Participant

              Sorry for the delay responding. This forum isn't that busy and I don't come here that often. There are several other UM forums you can probably find easily enough using Google.

              Anyway, uveal melanoma usually spreads first to the liver (~90% of the time), and liver metastases usually take quite a long time before their presence can be detected from their symptoms. Your oncologist should make sure you are receiving abdominal MRIs, or at the very minimum ultrasounds, on a regular basis.

              Also, it's an interesting fact that the vast majority of patients don't have visible mets at the time that their eye cancer is discovered and treated. There are a few different possible explanations for this, but the end result is that you probably don't need to worry too much about periods or aches and pains. You might bring up anything unusual with your doctors, but there's no need to brood over them because they're unlikely to be significant.

               

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