Hi Noeyehere

Apologies for using your forum name but you are happy with it, I presume.

I'm sorry for your diagnosis and ongoing treatment especially the loss of your eye which can be emotive to many.

I just thought I would bump your posting as it has got a little left behind and maybe someone new will see it.

Hoping the cancer has been 'fixed' and that the continuing monitoring will keep it that way.

Best wishes

David

Good morning everyone,

Ithe optician testing my eyes for my annual diabetes check up found a 'shadow' on the rear face of my right eye (sadly my 'better' eye).  Off to Bath hospital where a specialist passed me on to Liverpool Hospital for 'tests'.  There were quite a few and afterwards we (the Memsahib and I/me) had a chat to the specialist who thought the best course of action was Proton beam therapy.

So under the knife I went, they cut a few muscles to allow them to swivel my eye to the side and sew on the four tantalum 'washers', as a washer only has one hole, I suppose it should be a button!  These buttons were about 1/32" to 1/16" stitched in place to help direct the Proton beam to the correct position how the heck they did it I have no idea but ooodles of respect.

There was very little pain just a bit of discomfort.  Next came a trip up to The Douglas Cyclotron Centre Clatterbridge on the Wirral.  In a previous life I had dealings with a Klystron so the concept wasn't all new to me.

Long chat about the treatment and more measurements to transfer the size of the melanoma to cut a hole in a brass disk (which I have, I'm thinking about making it into a belt buckle)!

Sat in the chair on the first day and a frame was placed around my face and a damp mesh was placed over my face taking up the contours. Finally a 'gum shield' was fitted after me biting down onto it all to ensure I kept my head perfectly still during the treatment.

Xrays were taken of my eye (very pretty it is too), and the treatment began.  Thirty seconds of proton beam zapping my eye (totally painless) for the next four days.  The treatment was staggered so not everyone was seen at the same time each day so we could have a lie in.

During the Proton zapping I saw blue sparkly lights in a disk shape, a little like sequins but smaller.  This I was told was Cerencov / Cherencov radiation and only 'special people see it'!

Well. a while has gone since the treatment and all isn't quite well.  Nothing earth shattering, but my vision through my right eye (the affected one) is slightly smaller and inclined up toards the left.  All I can think of is that my eye hasn't been replaced exactly as it was prior to treatment.

Well. that's my story and if it helps anyone come to terms with this 'slight' problem'  I must add that the paperwork and instructional literature were invaluable.

I have various snaps which I cannot seem to place on this but if anyone would like to see them, please let me know.

Cheers,  Tony

Hi Tony,

as i type, i wonder if you are still on this forum, as your treatiment was bak in April.  Im about to go for my proton beam Therapy for a tumor on back of better seeing eye.  The sight in my bad eye is BAD! due to a tear in the retiner.  

Pleas tell me:  how bad is your sight now?  After each treatment, will i be able to see our of the eye?  can i take my patch off?  If i have to reply on just my bad eye to see, im up *** creek! 

Any honest advise will be most appreciated.

Thank you

Penny 

Hello Penny, 

yep I'm still here although I read contributions to this site once in a blue moon.  My eyesight is slowly going downhill,  I'm struggling to compose a letter for inclusion in the club magazine of the vintage vehicle I'm trying to restore but have come to a grinding halt due to my failing eyesight, osteoarthritis isn't helping either, trying to fit a srewdriver into a screw is a real hoot as I have to stop and dab the tears from my eyes every few seconds (as I'm doing now typing this letter).

I'm hoping a club member will take over and finish the restoration and allow me to drive the trike for the couple of years driving I have left before 'those in authority' say "Hand your licence in"!

I sincerley hope the operation goes of well with 100% SUCCESS.  eventually you will be able to take the patch off and not end up "Up poop creek without a paddle".  I mentioned a belt buckle, well it's made and I'd like to show a snap but don't have the technical knowhow.  If anyone out there knows how, spill the beans.  I promise to go to this website more often to help in any way I can.

Fingers crossed for both of us.  Cheers,  Tony.

Hello Penny, 

yep I'm still here although I read contributions to this site once in a blue moon.  My eyesight is slowly going downhill,  I'm struggling to compose a letter for inclusion in the club magazine of the vintage vehicle I'm trying to restore but have come to a grinding halt due to my failing eyesight, osteoarthritis isn't helping either, trying to fit a srewdriver into a screw is a real hoot as I have to stop and dab the tears from my eyes every few seconds (as I'm doing now typing this letter).

I'm hoping a club member will take over and finish the restoration and allow me to drive the trike for the couple of years driving I have left before 'those in authority' say "Hand your licence in"!

I sincerley hope the operation goes of well with 100% SUCCESS.  eventually you will be able to take the patch off and not end up "Up poop creek without a paddle".  I mentioned a belt buckle, well it's made and I'd like to show a snap but don't have the technical knowhow.  If anyone out there knows how, spill the beans.  I promise to go to this website more often to help in any way I can.

Fingers crossed for both of us.  Cheers,  Tony.