Just been diagnosed and waiting for an operation to remove my eye

Hi James,

I was diagnosed with eye cancer in December 2019 and was also told that the removal of the eye is the only way forward.

I had my operation on the 20th January  2020, they were very good at Sheffield,  my consultant was fantastic and so was my specialist nurse Tracy, I didn't wake up until the end .

I was scared, I'm not going to lie. I had visions of me not dealing with it, as my eye sight meant everything and I was petrified of not seeing.

After the surgery,  I surprised myself, I went for small walks around the block and then went further afield,  after about 4 weeks I got in the car, it didn't seem to scary, so I went around the block and gradually further. I have issues with confidence and driving at night but its early days.

I'm back at work on reduced hours, its not easy having just one eye, but it is something you sort of get used too. It's been nine weeks since my operation, I have good and bad days, but its important to try and be strong, else it would be easy to slip into depression.

I doubt know what company you work for but they are not allowed to discriminate against you, so there should not be any reason why you cant return back to work. 

After the operation it's normal to he tired, after 9 weeks I'm still tired but I do what I can and it's important to look after yourself and not do more than you can do.

As too your line of work, you may find it hard but you will learn space awareness and where to sit or stand in a room so that you have that vision 9f wgats around you.

I find that I have issues with depth,  whether I'm picking something up or putting it down  or coming down the stairs,  it's about taking your time and adjusting to what's now your way of living.

I'm not sure if I've managed to help answer any questions but I hope I gave you a small insight into how it's been for me and some of the issues that I've faced and are still facing.

There does seem to be any benefits that are on offer with having just the one eye  not even a disabled badge.

One of the things that I found surprising is there is not a face ho face support group for this type of cancer, I'm just glad that I've found this community site.

You take care and I hope the operation goes well  if I can help with any questions then let me know.

Kind regards 

Hi Emma,

Thank you so, so much for taking the time to answer.  I really do appreciate it and I feel less alone as it seems to be a rare cancer

I work aa a Security Officer at Nottingham Trent University.

I had a hyper 3 year old and a one week old also.  My wife struggles with her back also, so hope I get rest.

I've been fine brave wise untill I spoke to a Professor Rennie and nurse Lesley.  I just broke down and could taste the anxiety.  I knew what was going to happen but still broke down for some reason.

I hope they drug me up with something to elevate the fear/anxiety as I doubt they'll let me have a bottle of vodka  LOL 

It seems so surreal, I've only had a tooth out.  LOL 

I'm a sh*t (excuse my lanuage) driver with two eyes so am nervous about getting in the car after especial with the mirror checks

Can you chill and watch a long film without getting tired?

I like watching films and would miss them if not...

Kind regards 

James

Hi James,

I do a lot on the computer and that's quite tiring  but watching movies are ok, in the beginning you may find it tiring,  but you should feel less tired as time goes on.

Sheffield staff are very good and they do look after you, so hopefully your anxiety about the operation will be  less,  maybe they will prescribe you something good to calm your nerves .

I wish you all the best and I'm here if you have any questions now or after your operation. 

It sounds like you have a lovely family,  I'm sure that everything will be ok and workout

Take Care

Emma

Thank you Emma,

Much appreciated 

James you are worrying unnecessarily. After a few weeks recuperation you'll be doing just what you did before. Any surgery makes you tired and once recovered from that you'll be able to work and do everything you always did. I should say almost everything because I never did get my table tennis skills back.. I just cannot consistently hit the ball. I lost my eye to this cancer over 30 years ago. I only look into this forum because I'm on the site anyway because the luck of the draw gave me a blood cancer recently so I read over there sometimes. 

Good luck and enjoy the time with your new baby.

Thank you Sir,

your input has been very comforting.  I'm the sort of person who worries and worrying  LOL 

Good luck with the blood cancer and thank you.

I really do appreciate your input, it really does help 

Kind regards 

James 

Hi James have you had your op yet.

My left eye was removed last year (February) and this was followed up with 4 weeks radiotherapy. After this my body tried to reject my hard implant. In February this year I had another operation to replace the hard implant with a soft one, (fat from my stomach )    Since then I have at last had the first (off the peg) false eye fitted.

Still can not see out of it LOL, but I feel a lot better.

I can drive ok but driving at night is a bit of a nightmare.

This is my second cancer, the first was thyroid cancer 4 years ago.

I have had problems with my remaining eye and I am having injections in the eye once a month at the moment.

I still like to take photos and I am in a gun club.   Both disciplines normally involve  the closing of the left eye but I don't have to do that now,

By the way my second op was in and out in one day. 

All the best

Mal

Hi Mal,

I'm so sorry but I didn't receive a notification that I had a new message.  I was just browsing through the online community today and saw this...

I had my eye removed in march and had my prostectic eye fitted a couple of months ago due to Covid19 

I had a matching eye and a black one (cool one, that my son calls a spiderman eye  LOL)

I go back to work next week on a phase return,, I haven't driven much as I find it nerve wrecking especially in the dark

It sounds like you have really been through the mill, how are you.and what have you been up to?

Kind regards 

James

thanks for the reply James

I am getting there but still struggle in my half world. Driving at night for me is a no no. The worst thing about driving is going around right hand bends, it was my left eye that was removed.

I have finally had my proper false eye fitted after nearly 2 years.

Soo hopefully things are on the up. But at 73 anything can happen.

Hi James,

I stumbled across this during a google search and I just wanted to say sorry that you (and others on here) had to go through something like that. 

I wanted to ask if you had any symptoms prior to being diagnosed? I ask because recently when I was rubbing my eye I felt a small pimple like lump on my eyeball/eye socket area (not visible) and google results keep pointing to orbital tumour. 

How are eye cancers typically diagnosed? I am like you, a worrier and I can’t stop myself from thinking the worst.

Apologies for all the questions x