Eye cancer may occur in many parts of your eye. A tumor or cancerous lesion may grow on your eyelids, the surface of your eye or inside your eye. Eye cancer requires proper treatment to help you maintain the best possible vision and to prevent the cancer from spreading. Some people may look to topical herbal treatments. These alternative treatments may not provide adequate treatment, but your doctor can help you determine an appropriate treatment approach for your condition.
Symptoms
Symptoms of eye cancer include vision problems, including loss or blurring of your vision and changes in your side vision. You may also experience abnormal eye movements or difficulty moving your eye. Other symptoms may include visible changes such as spots or discoloration in your iris, change in pupil size and a protruding eye. You may not have any eye pain or discomfort. If you notice any of these signs or any other unusual symptom, contact your doctor right away.
Herbal Treatments
A topical herbal treatment will is not likely to resolve or treat a cancerous condition. For example, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center reports that in one incident, a man used an herbal salve of bloodroot and zinc chloride to treat a basal cell carcinoma. This improper treatment resulted in removal of a portion of the patient's nose. If you feel that an herbal treatment could provide some benefits, talk with your doctor. She may recommend using the herbal topical treatment in conjunction with other, proven treatments.
Other Treatment
Eye cancer will most likely require thorough treatment of the cancer or tumor. You may require radiation or chemotherapy to prevent or reverse growth of the cancer. Surgery may offer another option, and this may consist of removing a growth, or your doctor may need to perform a more aggressive procedure. She may recommend removing a portion or the entirety of your iris. In severe cases, your doctor may recommend enucleation, a surgery to remove your eye.
Considerations
You should not begin using herbal treatments for eye cancer or any other condition without first speaking with your health care provider. Some herbs may interact with medications you take, and this could result in dangerous side effects. Do not stop treatment for your eye cancer without discussing the possible outcomes with your doctor. If you have concerns about treatment, or if you would wish to explore holistic options, your doctor can help guide you in making these decisions.
