Treatment of Eye Cancer
Best hospitals and doctors for eye cancer treatment abroad
Leading hospitals
Cost for treatment
Like the entire human body, the organ of vision undergoes regular cell renewal. When cells multiplicate rapidly, atypical tissue can form, which is called a tumor. If such undesirable changes initially affect the organ of vision, they are classified as primary eye cancer. Cancer is called secondary when malignant cells spread there from other organs and systems.
Content
- Types of eye cancer
- About melanoma
- How to detect eye cancer
- Surgical treatment of eye cancer
- Conventional therapy for eye cancer
- Treatment tactics in people with melanoma
- The cost of treatment in Europe
- Undergoing eye cancer treatment in Europe
Types of eye cancer
Like other cancers, all eye lesions can be malignant or benign. These formations include several histological subtypes. There are general classifications of eye cancer following specifics of their development. Regarding localization, eye tumors are divided into tear gland tumors, retinal tumors, eyelid tumors, corneal tumors, and conjunctival tumors.
A tear gland tumor develops slowly. When affected by cancer, the eyelids are swollen, the eyes are watery, and there is a sensation of a foreign body in the eye. At the advanced stage, the eyeball loses mobility.
Retinal cancer is called retinoblastoma. With this lesion, strabismus (misalignment of the eyes) progresses and severe pain occurs. Retinoblastoma is more often diagnosed in children before the age of two. Early detection of this type of cancer almost always (90%) means successful treatment and complete recovery of vision.
A neoplasm on the eyelid may be an adenocarcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, or squamous cell carcinoma. The first is characterized by growth inside the eyelid. Meanwhile, the second metastasizes to nearby lymph nodes, and the third manifests as ulceration or nodule. Basal cell cancer more often manifests in people over 40. In this case, a lump appears at the bottom of the eye.
Damage to the cornea of the eye is called melanoma. In this case, vision gradually decreases, less often, the shape of the pupil changes, and a dark spot (or multiple ones) appears in the field of vision or on the iris.
There are two types of conjunctival lesions – papillomatous and pterygoid. In the first case, nodules of different sizes appear, and in the second – a whitish membrane with clearly outlined vessels.
About melanoma
Eye melanoma is a malignant neoplasm. A tumor originates from cells that produce melanin. Melanoma of the eye can develop in the following structures:
- The protective apparatus of the eyeball (upper and lower eyelids, eye socket)
- The lacrimal gland, its ducts, and conjunctiva
- The vascular tract of the eye
An eyelid melanoma is a three-dimensional pigmented neoplasm, which sometimes has a well-defined pedicle. The surface of the eye melanoma may be covered with papillary growths. The neoplasm is characterized by rapid progression and early formation of distant metastases.
Conjunctival melanoma can occur at any age. This type of eye cancer may be solitary or multiple. It is characterized by exophytic growth, and when it spreads, it affects the cornea, sclera and orbit. It progresses rapidly and metastasizes early.
Uveal melanoma develops in the vasculature of the iris or ciliary body. The disease is often characterized by metastatic cells spreading to the lungs, liver, and other internal organs. Young people (up to 35 years old) are at risk for this type of eye cancer.
The degree of malignancy of melanoma of the eye directly depends on its localization. The most unfavorable prognosis is for eye cancer, which develops in the eyelid area. Patients with vascular lesions have the highest survival rates. How long do people live with melanoma of the eye? The five-year survival rate under favorable circumstances is under 40%.
How to detect eye cancer
It is almost impossible to diagnose eye cancer at an early stage. When the tumor grows, clinical signs reveal themselves. These include:
- Deterioration of vision.
- Complete loss of vision.
- Bulging of the eye.
- The appearance of light flashes in the eyes. However, this can occur in all people, not just in people with cancer.
- Black spots on the iris.
- Pain in the eye (it is quite rare in eye cancer).
- Strabismus (often, in oncology in children).
Of course, these signs can be indicative of various other diseases. If you experience these symptoms or have a predisposition to cancer, you should visit an ophthalmologist.
Surgical treatment of eye cancer
Eye cancer treatment is always individualized and depends on the part of the eye where the tumor is located. A physician assesses a patient's ability to tolerate surgery well, and excludes the presence of contraindications to surgical treatment methods (e.g., inflammatory diseases, exacerbation of chronic pathologies).
Eye surgery is widespread in treating ocular melanoma and retinoblastoma of all stages. An ophthalmic surgeon performs it. During surgery, a part of the affected eye is removed under general anesthesia depending on the size and spread of the tumor.
Available surgical options for eye cancer include:
- Iridectomy (removal of part of the iris). If, in addition to the iris, the ciliary body is removed during the procedure, this is called an iridocyclectomy. Both methods are indicated for patients with small iris melanomas.
- Chorioidectomy (resection of part of the vasculature of the eye). The intervention is also used for small tumors of the choroidea.
- Enucleation (removal of the eye). Enucleation is the first-line surgery for large neoplasms that affect different parts of the eyeball. It is also performed if there are secondary complications that have already led to the loss of visual function. If the tumor has regional metastases, the surrounding diseased tissues (muscles, skin, lymph nodes, etc.) are removed.
If cancer relapses, it is first treated with more radical methods. For example, if an iridectomy was performed during the first treatment course, enucleation is likely to be chosen.
At the end of the surgery, the eye is covered with a dressing for 3 to 5 days. After the bandage is removed, the patient is discharged. At home, patients must clean the eye cavity and put in special drops. Rehabilitation after surgery for eye cancer is short since this organ is surrounded by bone, and there is no extensive soft tissue damage.
The stitches are removed after 2-4 weeks, and the prosthesis can be implanted (depending on the treatment options). Cosmetic surgery usually gives good aesthetic results. The artificial eye will look almost as well as the natural eye, although vision will be lost.
Surgical treatment of eye cancer has its risks. Possible complications include bleeding, infection, pain, development of cataracts, and vision loss. Also, eye surgery can be traumatic. Alternative methods (cryosurgery, laser, etc.) are now widely used in European hospitals.
Conventional therapy for eye cancer
Conventional eye cancer treatment usually involves chemotherapy and radiotherapy techniques. Indications for chemotherapy for patients with eye cancer include:
- Retinoblastoma or stage 3 and 4 melanoma of the eye. Chemotherapy is ineffective for melanoma, but if cancer has spread, it is mandatory because chemo is the only way to fight metastases throughout the body.
- Lymphoma and sarcoma. Chemotherapy for these types of eye cancers is the first-line treatment option.
- Cancer recurrences. Recurrent tumors often require the administration of high-dose chemotherapy to fight the disease.
Chemotherapy for eye cancer may be combined with immunotherapy. In this case a person receives drugs to boost the immune system; this improves the outcome of the treatment.
The most common side effects of chemotherapy are general weakness and fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, hair loss, diarrhea, and constipation. Symptomatic medications are prescribed to combat these, and side effects go away over time.
Radiation therapy is suitable for the treatment of:
- Small neoplasms in the eye. Using radiation therapy instead of surgery helps to save vision.
- Larger tumors (simultaneous with, before, or after surgery). This approach helps to destroy cancer cells and reduces the risk of recurrence.
- Recurrent cancer.
- Stage 4 cancer (to alleviate symptoms and stop the growth of metastases).
Brachytherapy is also one of the radiotherapy options for eye cancer treatment. A capsule containing a radioactive substance is implanted into the eye socket, near the tumor. The radiation destroys the DNA of malignant cells and causes them to die. The capsule must stay inside the eye for a week, and then it is removed. During this time, the person stays in the hospital.
Brachytherapy is also one of the radiotherapy options for eye cancer treatment. A capsule containing a radioactive substance is implanted into the eye socket, near the tumor. The radiation destroys DNA of malignant cells and causes them to die. The capsule must stay inside the eye for a week, and then it is removed. During this time, the person stays in the hospital.
Brachytherapy for eye cancer allows the maximum radiation dose to be applied with minimal damage to the surrounding tissue. It has fewer side effects compared to external radiation, but it is not indicated in case of deep tumors that have invaded the eye socket.
The maximum effect of brachytherapy is usually seen three months after treatment. The tumor shrinks and becomes inactive. If necessary, brachytherapy is combined with external irradiation.
As with any ophthalmic surgery, secondary complications such as retinal detachment, bleeding or infection can occur during capsule insertion in the eye. Some people complain of irritation and dry eyes, loss of eyelashes, deterioration or complete loss of vision.
Treatment tactics in people with melanoma
Surgical interventions for patients with ocular melanoma are performed in combination with preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy. The surgery involves the excision of the melanoma of the eye with an area of healthy tissue. The defect is corrected with the help of skin plasty. If nearby structures are affected, the volume of surgery is increased. For other types of ocular melanoma, orbital exenteration or enucleation of the eyeball is combined with pre-and postoperative radiation therapy.
If small iris tumors are detected, iridectomy, laser coagulation, or diathermic coagulation are performed. Local excision (excision of tumor) is performed if there are local neoplasms of the conjunctiva. Ophthalmological oncologists use innovative treatment methods for this pathology, including photocoagulation, cryodestruction, and other modern methods. Organ-preserving operations for melanoma of the eye are performed after a detailed examination. At the third stage of the disease, the use of organ-preserving techniques is questionable, and at the fourth stage – contraindicated.
Since the causes of melanoma of the eye are unknown, there are no prevention methods. If you have the first symptoms of visual impairment or damage to the eyeball, you should contact a medical institution immediately and make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. Early disease detection and sufficient treatment improve the prognosis.
The cost of treatment in Europe
For eye cancer, the cost of treatment in Europe depends on several factors. You can find accurate information for your case by contacting Booking Health – the international medical tourism provider. With this option, you will get a comprehensive answer to your questions about the price and content of programs for treating and diagnosing eye cancer.
As a rule, the essential factors are:
- The level of the hospital and healthcare professionals, the number of years in medical practice, etc.
- The type of medical procedures and services. Thus, when calculating the cost of surgery, the leading European hospitals usually include in the final price costs of prostheses and supplies, the number of days of hospitalization, etc.
- The cost of the preliminary examination in European hospitals.
- Prices for accommodation, food, etc.
In addition to the mentioned aspects, there are individual factors such as the stage of cancer, its localization, the patient age, the presence of comorbidities, etc.
The cost of eyeball removal (enucleation) for eye cancer ranges between 6,400 EUR and 11,800 EUR.
Feel free to contact Booking Health and clarify what the cost of treatment in Europe includes and which treatment programs will be the most helpful for you.
Undergoing eye cancer treatment in Europe
To undergo treatment abroad easily, patients can use the services of the international medical tourism company – Booking Health. For over 12 years, Booking Health has been cooperating with leading European hospitals.
Booking Health has been successfully helping people from 75 countries to receive medical treatment in Europe. Organizing treatment in leading European hospitals is our specialty. We will take care of all the arrangements, starting from receiving a visa and invitation for treatment and ending with translation of medical reports after the therapeutic course completion.
Under the professional guidance of Booking Health, your treatment in Europe will include access to the leading European hospitals and most skilled physicians. We will be happy to advise you on the possibilities of undergoing examinations and receiving medical care in European hospitals. In addition, extra charges for foreign patients will be excluded from the cost of treatment.
All you need to do is fill in the request form on the Booking Health website and wait for a medical advisor to contact you.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Farrukh Ahmed. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
