Dermoid cyst of the eye, orbital mets or something else?

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Alicethecat
Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hello ladies and any men reading this forum

I'm usually upbeat and try to take a positive stance but...I am worried.

In my left eye socket, underneath the skin is a small palpable lump. Six or eight years ago - way before breast cancer - I noticed that eye shadow was not clinging on well above this area but ignored it.

This lump has come up suddenly, I think, over the past week. On the other hand, it could have been there for years. I noticed it seemed like a fatty area but just thought it was ageing!!!

I don't like surprises so I looked it up and it sounds and looks like a dermoid cyst of the eye.

http://www.aapos.org/terms/conditions/41

On the other hand, I was saddened to read that breast cancer can sometimes metastasize to the eye. Depending on which sources are read, this is either rare or quite common.

I'm off to the optician on Tuesday - can't get in any earlier - so until then, does anybody have any idea what I could have? What symptoms should I look out for re orbital mets?

Best wishes and a big thank you

Alice

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited April 2013

    Hello everyone

    In case this is helpful, or anyone needs to look up this subject in the future, my optician thinks it is a benign dermoid cyst and referred me to the GP.

    GP thinks it is too but is booking an appointment for me with a local clinic. She thinks they will want to take it out and send it off to be analysed.

    Will involve a local anaesthetic to the side of the eye - yikes!

    But at least I will know for certain.

    Wish me luck.

    Alice

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  • mssunshine71
    mssunshine71 Member Posts: 162
    edited April 2013

    Good luck Alice!  Wishing you benign results :)

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited April 2013

    Hello Ms Sunshine

    Very nice of you to reply, thank you! I was wondering if anyone would.

    Have also discovered a lump that feels like ridgy cartilage near my right knee - breast cancer side - and am having that taken out too.

    Feeling a bit fed up about this but hopefully all will be well and will provide info for anyone worried too.

    Thanks again

    Alice

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited April 2013

    Good luck alicethecat, I hope everything is b9 for you.

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  • mssunshine71
    mssunshine71 Member Posts: 162
    edited April 2013

    let us know how it goes Alice.  We r here for u and although no one in your situation has yet replied I'm sure someone who is may have read this so thank you for the info and keep us posted.  ((Hugs))

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited April 2013

    Bevin and Ms Sunshine

    Thank you for your replies!

    Interesting to see that we three had similar results re Grade 3 but no nodes. Long may it stay that way!

    Will update once I get the results.

    Have a great weekend.

    Alice

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  • mssunshine71
    mssunshine71 Member Posts: 162
    edited April 2013

    I guess we are kind of in a similar situation after all.  I've been having headaches and double vision.  My CT was normal so MO is suggesting a possibility of orbital mets but doesn't really think it is so now I've got to make an appt with an optometrist to see whats up.

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited April 2013

    Hello Ms Sunshine

    I'm sorry you're going through this too.

    My breast care nurse said the chance of the cyst being related to breast cancer is negligible so I am hoping your optometrist can put your mind at rest and/or we both get benign results!

    Best wishes

    Alice

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  • mssunshine71
    mssunshine71 Member Posts: 162
    edited April 2013

    Thanks Alice.  I fel pretty confident its not Cancer returning becuase its improving instead of getting worse.  Its hard not to get worked up and worried at first.

    Best wishes to you as well and here's to no more scares!

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited May 2013

    Hello Bevin, Ms Sunshine and anyone interested in orbital mets - or otherwise

    In brief, I saw a screening ophthalmologist at a local clinic and he says he thinks the cyst is benign. Ditto the op I saw today but she is booking me in for an MRI scan of the eye just to be sure.

    As my GP also thinks it's a benign cyst, I'm feeling pretty relaxed about the whole thing.

    Hope anyone else going through this is feeling OK too.

    Best wishes

    Alice

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  • mssunshine71
    mssunshine71 Member Posts: 162
    edited May 2013

    That's great news Alice!!  It turns out my right eye is turning in intermittantly causing my double vision.  The doc thinks it could be a side effect of the tamoxifen.  So it was good to hear it wasn't cancer!!!  It's always nice to have good news!  :)

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited May 2013

    Hello Ms Sunshine

    I am so pleased for you. Excellent news!

    Are you going to stay on the Tamoxifen or try something else?

    Alice

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  • mssunshine71
    mssunshine71 Member Posts: 162
    edited May 2013

    Hi Alice.  I'm going to stay on the Tamoxifen and have a follow up in six months with the optomitrist.

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited August 2013

    Hello Bevin, Ms Sunshine and ladies

    I had a biopsy of the lump next to my left eye last Tuesday and saw the opthalmic surgeon today (Monday) for a follow-up meeting.

    He says I may have a prolapse of the lacrimal gland. In brief, a piece of the lacrimal gland is hanging down in a place where it shouldn't be. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23627253

    The ophthalmic surgeon said he can't be certain that it is benign - only the biopsy results will tell - but he is not overly concerned by some slight thickening of the tissue.

    So he just took a biopsy, shaved the rest down a bit to get a good cosmetic result and sent the sample off. The result will be available in two weeks. Fingers crossed!

    I hope this helps anyone worried about a similar eye problem.

    Best wishes

    Alice

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited August 2013

    Good News Alice, keep us posted. I'm glad he is not overly concerned. That's a good sign!

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  • mssunshine71
    mssunshine71 Member Posts: 162
    edited October 2013


    I just saw this Alice. Hope the results came back all clear!!!

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited October 2013

    Hello Ms Sunshine!

    The good news is that there were no cancer cells in my tear gland biopsy.

    The not so good news is that the docs did find inflammation in the gland. They think I may have something called sarcoidosis - my body making non-cancerous lumps - http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-sarcoidosis.htm

    These lumps can form anywhere in the body, even the vital organs, and may or may not cause a problem in function. However, up to 70% of people may not need treatment at all if the lumps aren't causing a problem. I hope to be in this group!

    In November, I'm going to see a respiratory consultantant to get checked out. Wish me luck!

    How is the Tamoxifen going?

    Best wishes

    Alice

     

     

     


     

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