Research leads to new treatments for patients with rare eye cancers

(from UW Medicine Advancement, read the entire story here.

Uveal melanoma, also known as ocular melanoma, is rare; only a few thousand individuals are diagnosed every year. This aggressive cancer and its treatments often lead to vision loss and a high rate of secondary metastasized cancer.

UW Medicine is transforming how we treat eye cancers, offering patients a brighter future and new possibilities for longer, healthier lives.

“At UW Medicine, we have world-class physicians and world-class facilities, which allows us to bring patients with rare tumors to one place that is quite unique in the country. It creates an opportunity for a center of excellence that is unmatched,” says Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Andrew Stacey, MD, MSc.

Dr. Stacey — who is the first and sole ocular oncology-focused surgeon for the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho region — joined UW Medicine in 2016, launching the region’s only full-service comprehensive eye cancer unit at the UW Medicine Eye Institute at Harborview Medical Center.

UW Ophthalmology’s ocular oncology program is one of the few in the country with specialized expertise in these rare and often aggressive conditions. Patients have access to the latest, most effective options available, including surgery, advanced radiation therapies and precision medicine approaches that tailor treatments to individual needs.

As a leader in ocular cancers, UW Medicine is able to engage in groundbreaking research and select studies that can advance the standard of care, providing patients with access to cutting-edge treatments before they are widely available.

To one patient, Jack Odell, Dr. Stacey and his team are a powerful reminder of how life-changing this care can be. Learn more about Mr. Odell's journey with uveal melanoma and how he is helping others in the video below.