Did you get a second opinion? I cannot stress how important it is for EVERYONE to get a second opinion when you have been diagnosed with an ocular melanoma or a suspicious choroidal nevus or spot that your ocular oncologist may be concerned about. Why? Shouldn't my ocular oncologist - a highly trained individual - know what they are doing? Experience between all ocular oncologists is highly variable, and ocular melanoma is so rare that most ophthalmologists have never seen one in their practice. When the wrong decisions are made in ocular oncology, cancers can spread, vision can be lost due to treatment delay, vision can be lost due to unnecessary treatment, not to mention eyes may be entirely removed because of delay and even misdiagnosis. Your doctor will almost always make decisions because they believe they are acting in your best interest, but you may discover that another ocular oncologist would not have necessarily taken the same treatment path.  If you are afraid that your doctor might get offended or that it is disrespectul to get another opinion, please think again. It is 2025. Healthcare must revolve around YOU, the patient. You are the reason there is even a healthcare system to begin with. Our job in medicine is to serve the patient. If your doctor or healthcare team gives you a hard time, or does anything short of encouraging you to get a second opinion, it may be time to change doctors. How else can you advocate for yourself, if you are not encouraged to learn and better understand what you have?  For Tara McCannel's resources (including webinar links and link to my book!), visit my website: https://seyhart.com/ocularmelanoma Welcome to Finding Your Way with Ocular Melanoma, a guide to understanding everything there is to know about your experience with this rare cancer. Learn through the lens of my knowledge and clinical experience as a physician expert and passionate patient advocate. The more you know about ocular melanoma, the better you will do, and the better you will live. Let's go! The content shared on the Finding Your Way with Ocular Melanoma podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information provided must not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. As a listener, you are responsible for your own health-related decisions and must consider consulting with a healthcare professional for personalized medical advice.  Tara McCannel MD PhD is a an ocular oncologist, vitreoretinal surgeon and co-founder of Seyhart Wellness. She is also the host of the Mind Body MD podcast where she shares her passion for holistic health and wellness.

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