Melanoma is a cancer that usually
occurs on the skin. It develops
from the cells that produce the dark-coloured pigment melanin, which
is responsible for our skin's coloring.
These cells, called melanocytes, are found
in other places in our bodies, too: our hair, the lining
of our internal organs, and our eyes. So while most melanomas do begin to
grow in the skin, it is possible for a melanoma to begin in
other parts, including the eye. When melanoma does occur in the eye
it is called ocular melanoma.
Ocular melanoma is a lethal
and very rare disease. Many people die from it,
especially when it spreads to the liver, a common complication. There are other types of eye
cancers, but melanoma is the most common.
Around 2,500 people are diagnosed
every year in the United States. In both the U.S. and Europe,
this equates to about 5 - 7.5 per million people per year; for
people over 50 years old the incidence rate is increased to around
21 per million per year.
Current research is also showing
that ocular melanoma is very different from normal skin melanoma.
Both your skin and your eyes should be
checked regularly by a doctor.
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