Questions to Ask Your Doctor: Primary OM

Questions to Ask Your Doctor: Primary OM

Questions to Ask Your Doctor: Primary OM INFORMED AND EMPOWERED OCULAR MELANOMA PATIENTS LIVE LONGER, BETTER LIVES.

Treatment-Related Questions

Primary Eye Tumor-Related Questions

• What are my treatment options and what are the differences? • Which treatment do you think is best for me? Why? • What are the different outcomes of these treatments? • What are the side effects of each treatment? How will these impact my day-to-day life?

• What is ocular melanoma and how is it different from cutaneous (skin) melanoma? • What are the dimensions of the tumor? What do they mean for treatment?

• Can I receive a written report with this information?

• Is ocular melanoma staged like other cancers? What stage am I? • Will you do a biopsy of the tumor? Why/Why not? What will be learned from the biopsy? What are the risks of doing a biopsy? • Will you test my tumor for genetic mutations? How do mutations affect treatment options?

• What types of radiation treatments do you offer?

• Do I need to have my eye removed?

• How many OM patients have you treated?

• How will my vision be affected? Is there a medicine or a shot that could help?

• Should I speak with a genetic counselor?

• If vision loss is expected, when will it occur?

• What is my risk of metastatic (spreading) disease?

• Is losing one’s sight painful? Will there be flashes of light or blind spots? Will I be disabled? Can I drive?

• How will you determine if the cancer has spread?

• Should I get a second opinion?