Download Q. Is eye cancer common? Why should we be aware of it? A

1. Cancer can arise in the eye, just as in any other part of the body.
2. Almost all eye cancers are visible to the naked eye early on. They can be detected early.
3. Most eye cancers can be treated successfully on early detection.
Q. Is eye cancer common? Why should we be aware of it?
A. Fortunately, eye cancer is not very common. However, as highlighted, it can be detected very early by
the patient himself. If the patient is aware, it can be identified and treated early, and the condition is
cured.
Q. How can we recognize eye cancer?
A. Any swelling around the eye which keeps increasing, any ulcer that does not heal quickly, must be
looked at carefully. If the eye looks larger, seems to be bulging out, there can be a growth behind the
eye pushing it. On the white part of the eye, a pinkish swelling which grows quickly is also a warning
sign. Instead of ignoring these, do consult your ophthalmologist.
Fig 1. Left eye lower lid swelling for 6 months – not a simple ‘heat boil’
Q. How is eye cancer treated? Who treats it?
A. Eye tumors are specialized area of knowledge, and the patient must seek out the correct place for
treatment. Treatment is a team-work between an ophthalmologist who has knowledge and experience
of ocular oncology (eye cancer), and the oncologist. The tumor can be treated by surgery alone, or more
often, a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Q. Can surgery not be avoided?
A. In the eye, many of the early tumors can cured completely by surgery. In fact, after removing the
tumor, the area can be reconstructed, so that the eye looks, feels, sees almost normally. Instead of
trying to avoid surgery, it is better to safeguard life and vision.
Even in bigger tumors, treatment can be accurate only after taking a small piece of the tumor and
getting it tested in the pathology laboratory for the correct diagnosis. Attempting to avoid surgery can
lead to delay in starting the correct treatment.
Fig 2a. Rapidly growing mole left eye – a basal cell cancer
Fig 2b. Complete cure after early surgery.
Fig 3a. Right eye bulging out for 1 month
Fig 3b. Large cancer found behind the eye.
Fig 3c. After surgery and radiation, eye is saved
Fig 4. Growth on white part of eye needs early detection
Q. At what age does eye cancer arise?
A. Eye cancer can arise at any age. There is high awareness about two diseases which arise in the eye in
early childhood- retinoblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.
Q. Will a child with retinoblastoma go blind?
A. Treatment of retinoblastoma is one of the success stories of modern medicine – treated correctly,
almost all children will live, and many will still be able to see. The emphasis is on early treatment and
correct treatment.