Ocular Melanoma Story Share with Jeff Howard
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- Meet Jeffery Howard--our first interviewee from the male population of patients I've had the pleasure of connecting with through A cure in sight!
Make sure to listen in, comment any questions you have, and share this story for others to tune into!
"In November of 2017, I began noticing strange lights popping up in my vision.
Working in dark environments for Radiology, I was starting to notice that I suddenly was bumping into people when turning corners and feeling embarrassed for not seeing them. It never occurred to me that I might have an issue until the floaters turned into streaks and explosions in my vision, which continually scared me and caused me to jump when they appeared.
I had seen my optometrist just one month prior to these occurrences. As it turns out, she used to work in the same office as my ophthalmologist. During the exam, she never noticed anything and gave me a clean bill of health (even with dilation). After noticing that the symptoms were getting worse, I contacted my ophthalmologist’s office to try and schedule an appointment.
They stated that since I had seen my optometrist and she didn’t see anything (being one of the best in Reno, NV), that there was likely nothing wrong with my eyes. As a result, it was suggested that I see a neurologist instead.
I couldn’t believe that this would have been anything related to the brain; but a neurologist performed his examination and had set me up with several exams to troubleshoot the problem - an MRI of the brain, an EEG, and an appointment with a retinal specialist.
The MRI and EEG proved inconclusive and “unremarkable”, which left only the retinal exam.
On February 23rd, 2018, I was diagnosed with uveal melanoma. Melanoma…I knew this was bad and that most melanomas don’t end well. What I didn’t know was the journey that was starting and the challenges that lie ahead.
Listen in for the rest of Jeff's story!
Jeff, i hope and pray you are doing well. I was diagnosed this past June. I had the plaque surgery and Castle/biopsy. In a little over a week i will learn the results. Although i have cried a few times over my diagnosis, I am somehow distant from the reality. I can't articulate it very well, but it's almost like the idea of having cancer is a foreign concept. I hardly think about my having cancer even though i take my drops daily, which I'd think would trigger a reminder I do have cancer! I guess i am maintaining my distance from my melanoma. I wish all of us the very best.❤
@@dianesilverstein6475 We have a fb page with amazing support system come over and visit us .
@@dianesilverstein6475 A Cure In Sight facebook
Thank you @@acureinsight4912
Two days ago I was referred to an ocular oncologist for suspected cancer. Last week I started losing vision. My first diagnosis was stress blindness, and I was referred to a retina specialist. The specialist basically told me a similar thing. You have cancer. While very professional he didn’t seem to have any positive things to say. His assistant tried to be helpful with comments like. Many people still live a full life after treatment.
I was basically told that there are two options. Radiation and removal.
Currently I am waiting for an appointment with the oncologist up in Portland oregon.
Thank you for your story.
I choose radiation procedure almost a year ago. I am curious what you choose and how you are doing.
Go to Dr Francis at memorial sloans and ketttering
I hope everything went well for you. Please
Thank you for this! There is a bad echo, as you know.
I was diagnosed in September 2023 and it was already a large tumor. By the time I got to Wills Eye hospital, Oct 19, 2023 it had taken over much of my eye and they had to enucleate my eye.
I am doing the same now. I am always bumping into walls and knocking things off counters and making spills.
This is why I don’t drive. I’m afraid to hurt someone.
I was diagnosed that month last year too! also got enucleated because the tumour was on the larger size.
It's wonderful to see that there is more awareness about this rare cancer! My mother was diagnosed with Metastatic Ocular Melanoma, early in 2017. She unfortunately passed away just over a year and a couple of months later. (Passing date; July 19, 2018)
I am so sorry for your loss. 😢
American healthcare is disgusting. In Australia this operation would have been free.
I agree about healthcare in the US, it's disgusting.
I was grateful that I have the American Medicare which is much better than the insurance I had with my company I had retired from.
My total was $733.00 for my part. Enucleation saved my life… so far.
@@peekaboocockatiel6514 Medicatre can get very confusing with all the "parts" and the gaps and the donut hole. I wish they could simplify it.