Cancer near eye has many different causes. The most common is a simple mole, but there are many different kinds of eye cancer that can develop around the eye. Some eye tumors are caused by another type of cancer, called metastatic cancer. Sometimes, tumors form near the eye as the cancer spreads from its original site. Eye tumors are also called eye moles, and are brown spots that form on the iris and choroid of the eye.
Another type of cancer near the eye is called mucosa-associated lymphoma, or MALT. This form of B-cell lymphoma affects the inner layer of the eyelid and surface of the eye. It usually starts as a pink or salmon-colored growth and is slow to spread. Treatment for this type of cancer usually includes chemotherapy or radiation therapy to control the tumor’s growth. The chances of dying increase with size of the tumor.
Treatment for cancer near eye has different methods depending on the type of cancer. If the tumor is small, it may not cause any problems, but if it grows larger than 10 millimeters or three millimeters, doctors may recommend surgery to remove it. Surgical removal may require removing part of the eye or the entire eye. Other methods may involve surgery to destroy cancer cells. These techniques are more invasive and may cause damage to the eye.
Radiation therapy may also be used to treat cancer near eye. Radiation therapy can destroy cancer cells and tissue around the eye, shrinking it. This treatment is also known as plaque therapy, endocurietherapy, and sealed source radiotherapy. It uses radioactive materials implanted on a plaque that is inserted into the eye socket. The plaque is then secured to the outside of the eye. If there is a tumor, doctors may use a different type of radiation.
The most common primary cancer of the eye is ocular melanoma. Although rare, it affects about 2,500 people in the United States every year. It can strike both men and women and affect people of any ethnicity. It usually affects adults, but there have been cases of childhood cancer as well. This cancer typically develops in the uveal tract, a colored layer beneath the cornea. It contains blood vessels and pigmented cells.
Another common form of cancer near the eye is retinoblastoma, which begins in cells of the retina. A parent or physician may notice that their child’s eye appears abnormal and a biopsy may be necessary. If the cancer is detected early, it will likely be curable. In many cases, however, it recurs, and this is why you should consult with a doctor if you suspect you have cancer near the eye.
Melanoma is another type of cancer near the eye. Although rare, it can spread from another part of the body. The most common is breast cancer in women, and lung cancer in men. Other types of cancer near the eye include skin cancer, kidney, colon, thyroid, and leukemia. There is a higher risk of recurrence if a person has a history of cancer near the eye. When cancer near eye has spread, it may be metastatic or primary.
