should I go to a cancer center

davisfamily70

should I go to a cancer center

davisfamily70

Hi everyone,

Just fishing for some opinions-I am almost 4 years from a bi lateral mastectomy-cancer in both breasts but no lymph node involvement and 8 rounds of chemo. I went to get new glasses yesterday and the eye doctor dilated my eyes to take a look. He saw a nevus in my eye and said with my history I should go to a retinaologist to have my eye looked at because sometimes a nevus may be cancerous. I am not freaked out but I did some (dreaded) internet research and it may be a cause for concern.

I am wondering if I should bother my oncologist with this and maybe try to see a retinologist at the cancer center that is in my hometown or should I just go see who the eye doctor referred me to and wait to see what that doctor says before concerning my breast cancer specialist.

I don't want to appear to be an alarmist but has anyone else ever had one of these-he explained it as a mole behind my eye

alligans

I have one of those.  It was found a few months ago when I got my eyes dilated for the first time.  He told me that they have to be followed yearly.  Some of them can be more concerning than others based on their appearance and based on changes.  I think ones that are raised or that start to grow or change shape are the more concerning ones.  While not very common, they are common...quite a few people have them.  Think of them as beauty marks.  Beauty marks on your skin are also nevi.  They all have the potential to become malignant but most do not.  However, unlike the ones on your skin that you can see with the naked eye and thus note any changes yourself, these you cannot see without dialted eyes and a slit lamp examination and/or retinal photograph. 

I do not have a past cancer history and people who have had cancer in the past aren't more prone to developing retinal nevi as they are common in the non-cancer population.  However, if you are concerned about it then definitely see the doctor that your opthamologist is recommending to put your mind at ease.  I was quite nervous when I was told that I had one of these but after some research I've learned that the potential for malignant transformation is quite low and I'm comfortable with yearly monitoring.  I think that they are more common in the 30+ year old group than in a younger age group.

Have you ever had your eyes dilated before?  Is this something new?  Did your opthamologist mention whether or not this nevus is concerning in its behavior, size, or shape? 

Here are 2 very informative websites:

http://www.eyecancer.com/patient/Condition.aspx?nID=60&Category=Choroidal+Tumors&Condition=Choroidal+Nevus

http://vision.about.com/od/sportsvision/a/Eye_Freckle.htm

Leah_S

It would be a good idea to see a retinologist.. BC mets to the eye can happen, though it is EXTREMELY RARE. For peace of mind if nothing else you should go.

Look at it this way - you'll finally have a medical examination where you can keep your clothes on.

Best of luck.

Leah

rachel5738

I have had one of those in my eyes for years aswell---as alligans wrote--it is like a beauty mark in the eye. Basically, they monitor it at every checkup and ensure that it never increases in size. Get it checked anyway--peace of mind.

davisfamily70

Thank-you so much for the prompt replies. It really puts my mind at ease, my experience with cancer is that something suspicious always happens on a Friday or Saturday which requires me to wait over the weekend to take action. I should be used to it by now-I am going to make an appointment on Monday. I will let you know how it turns out and I will go and enjoy what little is left of my weekend

Thanks

alligans

When I replied I didn't think that you were concerned about a breast cancer met.  I thought you were concerned about this being or becoming a melanoma.  So, I just wanted to add a little bit of information that I found when I was first diagnosed with an eye beauty mark or as the medical world calls it a chorodial nevus.  I hope that this puts your mind at ease so you can enjoy the rest of your weekend and so that you can enjoy your week ahead while you await your appointment with the eye specialist.

When I was first told I had this thing, I was freaked out. I was just starting to believe that my fibroadenoma really was a fibroadenoma and not a breast cancer tumor.  It took me a long time to put this fact at ease in my mind.  When I was diagnosed with this beauty mark I was flipping out that I was doomed to have melanoma or that this was a breast cancer met being incorrectly diagnosed as a fibroadenoma.  I read lots and lots of stuff and looked at lots and lots of different pictures of benign retinal nevi, malignant melanomas of the retina, and cancer mets to the retina.  While the first two are slightly similar in appearance (however to the trained eye there are subtle to drastic differences that help with the diagnosis) a breast cancer met looks drastically different.

Here is a link with some information on how a nevus and a breast cancer met differ greatly in appearance along with some pictures.  Basically, according to this website, a nevus is dark (brown, gray, black) while a breast cancer met is pigmentless (has no color).

http://www.eyecancer.com/Patient/Condition.aspx?nID=59&Category=Choroidal+Tumors&Condition=Choroidal+Metastasis

I'm sorry that you have to worry.  I too worry about every little thing.  The bes thing that you can do in a case like this is to see a specialist to put your mind at ease.  Good luck!  I'm sending you a cyber hug. 

davisfamily70

Alligans,

Thank-you so much -you have been a great comfort-yes I am worried about mets-

the eye doctor was pretty adament that I see someone right away-

and then when I called the retinologist they wanted to see me that day-scary-

I had to take a breath -

so my appointment is Monday. I am prepared

 that is the beauty of having the information before hand -so bless you for your quick response .

I am grateful.

davisfamily70

Just an update-I went to the retinologist for the standard 3 hour appointment-grrrrr

He saw the nevus but it did not indicate a mets-I was prepared with questions because of the links you sent me, I felt in so much control, but I must have been tense because when he gave me the thumbs up-my jaw unclenched and my teeth ached. I need to go back in 3 months and have an angiogram to the eye-Tamoxofin can cause retinal problems-but now he is on top if it.

Thanks again for the support

Julie

alligans

Yay!  I'm so happy to hear this.  I was wondering about you.