| Eye Cancer Basics |
|
Disease Information
|
| Eye Cancer Treatment at M. D. Anderson |
|
Section of Ophthalmology
Services
Services provided include evaluation and treatment of primary orbital, intraocular and periocular malignancies; ocular side effects of cancer therapy; and other ocular problems in cancer patients.
Features
The faculty members in the Ophthalmology Section have subspecialty training in the following:
- Treatment of orbital, eyelid and lacrimal gland malignancies; other orbital and eyelid disorders; lacrimal drainage surgery; and eye plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Treatment of primary intraocular tumors such as uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma
- Anterior segment surgery, including cataract surgery
- Vitreoretinal surgery
- Medical and surgical treatment of ocular graft-versus-host disease
- Read More
Ocular Side Effects of Cancer Therapy
"It is a good idea for patients starting Taxotere or similar chemotherapy drugs to schedule an evaluation by an ophthalmologist," says Dr. Bita Esmaeli, chief of M. D. Anderson's Section of Ophthalmology.
"If the tear duct appears to have been affected by the drugs, a simple outpatient surgical procedure can be done to place a temporary stent in the nasolacrimal duct to prevent closure of the canaliculi ducts. Once the ducts close completely, the surgical procedure is more involved and takes longer to perform." Read More. |
| Eye Cancer Education & Support |
| Patient Story
Cancer struck Blake Boudreaux early in life. At the age of one, his left eye was removed, and at three, tumors appeared in his right eye. None of this has kept him from being a typical teenager who plays football at Deer Park High School and dreams of becoming a radio disc jockey. "During my cancer treatments, my parents treated me as a normal kid," he says. "They didn’t want me to feel different from anyone else."
Blake has adjusted so well that his teachers and friends don’t even notice his limited eyesight. He also isn’t shy about talking with friends about cancer. "I share my story with every new friend I make, if they’re interested," he says. Blake even helped a friend who thought he had kidney cancer and was refusing treatment. "I told him that you can beat cancer, no matter what, and that I was living proof."
Blake raises money for the American Cancer Society every year, and hopes to enroll at The University of Texas in Austin or San Antonio. "Because I survived cancer, I feel like I can accomplish anything."
Education & Support
Related Sites
-
Care Centers
- Disease & Topic Portals
|
|
|
