ocular melanoma

Understanding Melanoma on the Eye: Types, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options

Melanoma on the eye, also known as ocular melanoma, is a rare but serious form of cancer that develops from melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin. This pigment gives color to the eyes, skin, and hair. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the types of ocular melanoma, its diagnosis, and available treatment options. [1]

Types of Ocular Melanoma

Ocular melanoma includes ocular melanoma, also called uveal melanoma, and conjunctival melanoma. [2]

Ocular/Uveal Melanoma

The uvea is a three-layered part of the eye. It is made up of the choroid, iris and ciliary body. Uveal melanoma can form in any of these layers and is named for where it forms:

Choroidal melanoma begins in the layer of blood vessels – the choroid – beneath the retina. It is the most common type of uveal melanoma. A 2012 article by the American Academy of Ophthalmology discusses the differences between choroidal nevi and choroidal melanoma.
Iris melanoma occurs in the front, colored part of the eye. Iris melanomas usually grow slowly and do not typically metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body outside the eye.
Ciliary melanoma originates in the ciliary body, situated in the front of the uvea, responsible for secreting aqueous humor into the eye. These melanomas may grow anteriorly, visible on biomicroscopy as a darkly pigmented mass behind the pupil. Pigmentation can vary. Notably, ciliary melanomas tend to progress more rapidly, with a higher likelihood of metastasizing to the liver, compared to iris melanomas.

Treatment for ocular melanoma may involve procedures such as radioactive plaques, proton beam therapy, or even eye removal.

Recent advancements, such as the Health Canada approval of Kimmtrak in June 2022, provide hope for patients with unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma.

Conjunctival Melanoma

The conjunctiva is the clear tissue that covers the white part of the eye, as well as the inside of the eyelids. Conjunctival melanoma is very rare. It often appears as a raised tumor and may contain little or even no pigment. Conjunctival melanoma most commonly occurs in the bulbar conjunctiva – the mucous membrane that covers the outer surface of the eyeball. Unlike other forms of ocular melanoma that spread most often to the liver, when conjunctival melanoma spreads, it most often spreads to the lungs.

Individuals diagnosed with conjunctival melanoma may undergo resection, cryotherapy, topical chemotherapy, or radiation as part of their treatment plan.

Learn more about ocular/uveal melanoma

Diagnosis and Prognosis Melanoma on the Eye

Diagnosing ocular melanoma often involves routine eye exams, where some cases may be asymptomatic. The prognosis varies, with uveal melanoma recurrence occurring in less than 5% of cases after primary treatment. However, approximately 50% of people with uveal melanoma may develop metastases, typically in the liver. [3]

Treatment Options

Treatment for melanoma on the eye depends on the type, location, and stage of the cancer. The aim is to control the primary tumor and prevent recurrence or metastasis. In advanced cases, a range of treatments, including immunotherapy, molecularly targeted agents, and liver-directed therapies, may be employed.

Learn more about innovations in treatment

Ocular melanoma, though rare, poses unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Collaborative efforts between patients, healthcare professionals, and researchers are crucial for advancing our understanding and developing more effective treatments. Ongoing research and recent breakthroughs, such as the Health Canada approval of Kimmtrak, offer hope for improved outcomes in the fight against ocular melanoma.

Get Support

Ocumel Canada, an initiative of Save Your Skin Foundation, was formed to increase awareness, advance treatment options, and build a supportive community for those diagnosed with primary and/or metastatic ocular/uveal melanoma (OM).

WE INVITE ALL OM PATIENTS, AT ANY STAGE, TO GET IN TOUCH.

We are here to help. Call us at 1-800-460-5832 or email info@saveyourskin.ca

Learn More About Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a drug treatment that uses the human body’s own immune system to fight cancer. It may be administered to patients intravenously in the Chemotherapy Unit of the hospital, but it is not the same as chemotherapy.

Learn more

Learn More About Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy drugs are designed to specifically target cancer cells. For melanoma, these drugs target the activity of a specific or unique feature of melanoma cancer cells.

Learn more

Learn More About Clinical Trials

New treatments are tested in clinical trials before they are approved for general use. There are safeguards in place to ensure clinical trials are as safe as possible and meet medical ethical standards. Participating in a trial can be a way to have access to potentially helpful new therapies you couldn’t get otherwise.

Learn more

References

[1] “Cancerous Tumours of the Eye.” Canadian Cancer Society, cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/eye/what-is-eye-cancer/cancerous-tumours. Accessed 4 Jan. 2024.

[2] “CURE OM – Melanoma Research Foundation.” Melanoma.org, 27 June 2023, melanoma.org/patients-caregivers/cure-om/. Accessed 4 Jan. 2024.

[3] “Ocular Melanoma.” AIM at Melanoma Foundation, www.aimatmelanoma.org/melanoma-101/types-of-melanoma/ocular-melanoma/. Accessed 4 Jan. 2024.

CURE OM Global Science Meeting Recap

Creating a Shared Vision of Progress and Hope

Date of the meeting: November 6, 2023

Hosted by the Melanoma Research Foundation

The recent Cure OM Global Science Meeting held in Philadelphia aimed to foster a shared vision of progress and hope in the fight against ocular/uveal melanoma. The event brought together researchers, clinicians, industry partners, and patients to discuss advancements, clinical trials, and collaborative efforts. The mission, as emphasized by the Melanoma Research Foundation, is to eradicate melanoma through accelerated research, education, and advocacy.

This blog article summarizes some of the meeting’s highlights.

View the meeting agenda

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Navigate to Topics

Highlights

Dramatic Evolution in Research Landscape

Reflecting on the past decade, participants noted a significant shift in the ocular melanoma research landscape.
In 2013, industry partners didn’t participate actively in the discussion and the focus was on understanding the unique characteristics of uveal melanoma, distinct from cutaneous melanoma.
In 2023, the meeting showcased substantial progress with seven industry partners actively engaging in discussions, covering primary eye treatment, genetic prognostics, metastatic disease treatments and adjuvant and neo-adjuvant therapies.

Industry Partner Presentations

Aura provided updates on AU-011 (Bel-Sar), a virus-like particle conjugated with a light activated cytotoxin which aims to kill the tumor. It is either injected suprachoroidally or intravitreally and is light-activated. They presented some positive data showing the safety and efficacy giving us hope that perhaps this could be a new primary treatment that could treat primary uveal melanoma while sparing patients from dealing with the fallout from radiation-induced retinopathy. Bel-Sar will hopefully be moving into a phase three clinical trial.

Delcath discussed Hepzato, a recently FDA-approved liver-directed therapy which is set to be commercially available in early 2024.

Ideaya reported promising data in the Phase 1/2 trial of darovasertib and crizotinib, with pivotal trials now open at multiple sites in the US and abroad. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant trials will also be opening worldwide.

Immunocore presented on tebentafusp or Kimmtrak, the first FDA approved therapy for metastatic uveal melanoma. It is now widely available in the US and abroad. And there are some ongoing trials looking at other targets.

Replimune is looking to open a clinical trial in the uveal melanoma space. They are working on an intralesional (direct injection into the tumor) modified virus. It is a herpes virus that is modified with something called GM-CSF and other immune tweaks to help the immune system recognize the cancer. In a trial, metastatic uveal melanoma patients were given either just this injection or the injection in combination with nivolumab and the response rates were upwards of 28.6% with a disease control rate of 57.1%. There is hope that this clinical trial will be available to patients soon.

TriSalus presented on the ongoing Perio-1 clinical trial. This is an intra-hepatic artery delivery of an immune stimulant via a special catheter in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors that are given peripherally.

Discussion Points

A key emphasis was placed on the growing interest and involvement of various companies in developing treatments for ocular/uveal melanoma. While this is a positive trend, speakers highlighted the need for collaboration to avoid competition between trials and ensure inclusivity. Physicians don’t want patients to feel that if they start one clinical trial, they won’t be able to go on another. Suggestions included making inclusion and exclusion criteria less restrictive, ensuring trials are accessible across different regions and supporting patients so that lack of access to clinical trials is not a reason to not participate.

Liver-Directed Therapy – Pros and Cons

The discussion then turned to liver-directed therapy, a crucial treatment approach for uveal melanoma. Dr. Orloff underscored the importance of understanding the pros and cons of liver-directed therapy, systemic therapy, and combination therapy. These considerations are crucial for patients facing decisions about the most suitable treatment path.

1. Liver-Directed Therapy:

Pros:

In MUM, liver metastases are leading cause of death
Various liver directed treatments can be very effective at controlling hepatic metastases
Often well tolerated with limited side effects experienced between treatments
Some patients only require limited treatments with long treatment free intervals
Not restricted to any one population
Have one FDA approved LDT option (PHP)

Cons:

MUM by definition is a systemic disease and extrahepatic disease can develop and lead to morbidity and rarely mortality
Requires institutional expertise
Patients may need to travel further for treatment
Some liver directed treatments require more extensive resources
Limited randomized trial data (comparing LDT or to systemic treatments)

2. Systemic Therapy:

Pros:

Treatment of systemic disease (treats the whole body)
Tebentafusp is available and has an overall survival benefit and good side effect profile
Darovasertib + Crizotinib is also an option with a decent objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR)

Cons:

Tebentafusp is HLA restricted
It needs to be injected weekly
It has a low response rate and has a high rate of immune-related adverse event
It may not shrink tumours up-front
Often systemic trials are restricted to line of therapy

3. Combination Therapy:

Pros:

Potential to control both hepatic and systemic metastasis
Opportunities for debulking tumors before systemic therapy
Synergy of liver directed treatment and systemic treatment especially when using systemic immunotherapy

Cons:

Optimal combinations and sequences are unknown
Toxicities of both therapies need to be managed

Data Highlights and Proposed Studies

TriSalus

TriSalus presented data as a late-breaking abstract at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) annual meeting. They are investigating their special catheter that allows infusion of SD-101 infusion in combination with immunotherapy. There have been multiple cohorts, and the results so far show a 58% disease control rate (DCR) across all SD-101 doses and an 81% DCR at two milligrams. Optimizing dosage is a focus, as higher doses may not necessarily be more effective. Preliminary overall survival signals are encouraging.

Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion (PHP)

PHP is a catheter system facilitating closed-circuit liver perfusion with melphalan. Results from the focus trial, presented in 2022 at ASCO, demonstrated significant improvements in overall response and disease control compared to alternative care arms. Side effects, primarily related to bone marrow suppression, were noted.

Combination Trial Designs

Ongoing trials show promise in combining hepatic perfusion with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

The Scandium II trial compared hepatic perfusion (IHP) followed by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), with ICI followed by IHP followed by more ICI. The Scandium III trial compared ICI alone with PHP followed by ICI.
Another trial presented by Dr. Orloff explored combining tebentafusp with liver-directed therapy. For lower volume disease, the design involves administering tebentafusp upfront, followed by liver-directed therapy. For higher volume disease, the design involves chemoembolization first, followed by tebentafusp.

Learn More About Clinical Trials

Adjuvant and Neo-Adjuvant Clinical Trials

Three new trials will be opening soon in the adjuvant/neo-adjuvant space:

Quizinostat (University of Miami)
Neoadjuvant/Adjuvant Darovasertib
ATOM: Adjuvant Tebentafusp Ocular Melanoma

Learn More About Clinical Trials

Tebentafusp in Practice

Dr. Butler, Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Seedor all presented on tebentafusp in practice. Tebentafusp is a bispecific molecule that brings T-cells to the tumour and have been showed to offer significant survival benefits. The challenge lies in translating clinical trial success to real-world scenarios, where patients might have more advanced disease.

Dr. Seedor shared case vignettes featuring patients with a substantial disease burden. These patients showed potential benefits from tebentafusp but Dr. Seedor suggested that stabilizing patients before initiating tebentafusp might be necessary for optimal outcomes.

Dr. Butler presented on the situation in Canada, where initial access to the drug was previously restricted to two centres, but has now expanded nationwide, enabling a diverse group of patients to undergo tebentafusp treatment. In a real-world grouping of patients, it was observed that stabilization or positive responses to tebentafusp were linked to improved outcomes, aligning with findings from clinical trials and showing that a variety of patients are experiencing benefits from tebentafusp.

Dr. Sullivan presented innovative data addressing the challenge of assessing tebentafusp’s impact on cancer. While the drug may not necessarily shrink tumours, it slows down their growth. Traditionally, oncologists rely on tumour shrinkage to gauge treatment efficacy. Dr. Sullivan discussed findings suggesting that even in cases of disease progression on imaging, a decrease in circulating tumour DNA correlates with a more favourable response to therapy. However, the specific assay used in the study isn’t commercially available. Dr. Sullivan found that there are several ways to analyze circulating tumour DNA and cells in the blood fraction and that one of them might be better suited to patients with uveal melanoma, suggesting that even patients who are on standard of care treatment may benefit from clinical trials that use this biomarker as a way to follow patients.

Systemic Therapies Highlights

Several presentations focused on systemic therapies.

Dr. Moser shared insights into emerging therapies:

Roginolisib – PI3Kδ inhibitors are showing promising results in patients and in animals
Radioligand therapy – A novel approach to targeting tumors using a molecule that brings radiation particles directly to the tumour to target tumour cells.
TCR Therapy – Promising trials are trying to target tumors with cell therapies. There are actually several different studies looking at TCR based therapies, CAR T-cell based therapies as well as tumor infiltrating lymphocyte therapies are being studied across the world to determine the best approach for patients.

Dr. Hamid explored byspecific antibodies in OM:

He highlighted the three-year survival rate for tebentafusp, which showed a consistent benefit in terms of overall survival. Unfortunately, not enough patients are doing really well five years later, but certainly, they’re doing better than they were on the investigator’s choice protocol.
Immunocore has a new agent called F106C that targets PRAME, which is an antigen expressed highly in uveal melanoma but also in other types of cancers. They’ve seen a high percentage of response in patients with uveal melanoma as well as skin tumours. And there are several follow up trials beyond the initial phase one to look at the role of this study in patients with uveal melanoma, cutaneous melanoma, as well as other tumours in the future.
Various different types of immune cells are being investigated for cancer treatment:
- Lymphocyte cells that are allogeneic (cells that come from one person and are used in another person to fight the cancer)
- CAR T-cell
- Bispecific agents brought into a cell and infused as a therapy
- Human mesenchymal stromal cells

Dr. Butler presented on Protein Kinase C Inhibition. He covered the promising results of darovasertib in combination with crizotinib for uveal melanoma, presenting a high response rate, even in patients with significant disease burdens. The phase one study, having transitioned to phase two/phase three, is now comparing darovasertib and crizotinib to immunotherapy or investigator choice in the first-line setting. The study aims to provide insights into the therapy’s duration, side effects, and optimal administration strategies across multiple centres. However, challenges remain, such as determining the sequencing of therapies, determining which patients should get the drug right away and which patients should be treated later on, and engaging with pharmaceutical companies to ensure patients have access to various treatment lines.

Dr. Khan reviewed data on immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors, pointing out that, while there is a higher response rate with combination immunotherapy, there are many more side effects with combination immunotherapy compared to single agent anti PD-1 therapy. Studies that compared ipilimumab + nivolumab versus nivolumab or pembrolizumab alone showed that the overall survival rate in these non-concurrent clinical trials are not that different. The response rate is a bit higher for combination versus single agent but there is no significant difference in overall survival.

One study looked at the LAG-3 combination of nivolumab and relatlimab and found that the response rate was higher than for a single agent, but a little bit lower than combination in that study. It may be an option for patients that want a higher response rate with less side effects.

Patient-Powered VISION Registry

Sara Selig introduced the VISION platform, a patient-powered real-world registry. With over 400 registered patients, the platform aims to collect data on diagnosis, barriers to treatment, and patient priorities. This valuable information aids in understanding the patient experience and advocating for improved resources and access.

Learn More About the VISION Registry

In conclusion, the CURE OM Science Meeting showcased a vibrant landscape of advancements in ocular melanoma treatment. From neoadjuvant trials to real-world applications and promising biomarkers, the meeting underlined the collaborative efforts driving progress. As patients, advocates, and researchers continue to navigate this journey, the collective commitment to advancing knowledge and accessibility remains a beacon of hope.

Get Support

Save Your Skin Foundation wishes to bring hope and support to all those touched by melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancers, or ocular melanoma – whether they are newly diagnosed, currently undergoing treatment, in remission or referred to as “NED” (no evidence of disease).

WE INVITE ALL SKIN CANCER PATIENTS, AT ANY STAGE, TO GET IN TOUCH.

We are here to help. Call us at 1-800-460-5832 or email info@saveyourskin.ca

Learn about our other resources for ocular melanoma patients:

Ocumel Canada

Ocumel Canada, an initiative of Save Your Skin Foundation, was formed to increase awareness, advance treatment options, and build a supportive community for those diagnosed with primary and/or metastatic ocular melanoma (OM).

Learn more

About Ocular and Uveal Melanoma

This page contains lots of information about ocular/uveal melanoma and resources for patients.

Learn more

Move for Melanoma 2023 – It’s a Wrap

A tremendous THANK YOU to all of our incredibly dedicated participants and generous donors!

50 participants and 14 teams across Canada took part in Move for Melanoma this year! We have been so moved and inspired by this incredible community of patients, families, and friends.

After the success of last year, we once again set ourselves an ambitious goal of raising $75,000. With your help, we ended up reaching our goal once again this year!

Video wrap up

To wrap up this monumental weekend, we’ve created the Recap Video below. We hope you will take a few moments to watch it as we pay tribute to our incredible participants, donors and sponsors across Canada. You can also view our 2023 PSA with J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks!

We’d also like to highlight the three fundraising teams that raised the most this year.

Team Ocumel Canada

Based in Victoria, BC, Team Captain Nigel Deacon ran a marathon distance to inspire others to donate to this worthy cause. Together with his fellow team members, they raised an incredible $12,777 for ocular melanoma patients.

Check out his team page here.

Scots across the Rockies

Based in Powel River, BC, Team Captain Taylor Tomko created a family donation page in hopes of inspiring others to donate to this worthy cause. Together with her fellow team members, they raised an incredible $9,704 for melanoma patients.

Check out her team page here.

Helen’s Freewheelers’s

Based in Nanaimo, BC, Team Helen’s Freewheelers raised funds in honour of Helen’s courageous battle against metastatic Basal Cell Carcinoma. She’s now undergoing immunotherapy on Vancouver Island and exploring more advanced treatment options and clinical drug trials. The team raised $6,000

Check out their team page here.

Finally, we’d like to acknowledge the many businesses that stepped up to support our event this year. Please show them your support!

Coping with the Emotional Impact of Cancer – Mental Health Week

Empowerment Through Connection: Join us during Mental Health Week for a special webinar tailored to individuals actively managing their cancer diagnosis, caregivers providing unwavering support, survivors navigating the aftermath, and anyone touched by cancer.

We’ll delve into the unique emotional and psychological dimensions of the cancer journey, fostering resilience and building connections within this community.

Our featured speakers include

Dr. Sue Johnson, Founding Director of the Ottawa Couple and Family Institute and the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy;
Lyanne Westie, SYSF Wellness Support Consultant;
Guest speaker

Join us for an enriching and supportive discussion that aims to empower you on your cancer journey. Together, we can foster resilience and build lasting connections.

REGISTER TODAY!

Only 23 days left! Move for Melanoma 2023

As we eagerly approach the month of September, our excitement grows as we prepare to shine a spotlight on the amazing accomplishments of our community.

The momentum leading up to our highly anticipated 5th annual Move for Melanoma fundraiser has been nothing short of inspiring. This event is not only a testament to our collective dedication to those touched by melanoma, non-melanoma, skin cancers & ocular/uveal melanoma but also a powerful reminder of the impact we can achieve together. Mark your calendars for the dates of September 22-24, 2023, as we unite once again for this remarkable cause.

Fundraising Tips

The team at Save Your Skin Foundation would like to thank the 21 participants who have registered, as well as the 11 teams that have already joined the Move for Melanoma. Your involvement has catapulted us beyond expectations, propelling us to reach 25% of our fundraising goal.

Our journey is far from over! With each step we take and each contribution made, we inch closer to our ultimate objective. The funds raised through Move for Melanoma have consistently offered invaluable support to those affected by melanoma, non-melanoma, skin cancers & ocular/uveal melanoma.

Fundraiser tips

With only 23 days to go before Move for Melanoma, it’s the perfect time to do another round of requests for donations. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you:

Post on social media frequently. People rarely donate the first time they are asked. By posting frequently, you’ll remind people who might have forgotten, and get better results.
Send personal emails. Most people, when asked directly, will be happy to make a donation to a cause important to a friend or family member.
Tell your story. This cause is important to you for a reason. People who are touched by your story will be more likely to give.
Use an image. We all know the power images have. Consider including a photo of yourself or your family in your posts or emails.

And don’t forget to always include the URL to your fundraising page so that donations made as a result of your posts will be correctly assigned to your team.

For more on how to fundraise, including sample posts you can use, click here.

Participant Resources

We’ve created some resources to help you get ready for Move for Melanoma. The resources include:

A Participant Timeline – that offers tips and tricks for getting ready for the event
A Donation Form – which you can print out and use to keep track of donations made to you with cash, cheque or credit card
A Scavenger Hunt Printout – Print this out to lead your kids through a fun scavenger hunt.
A Scavenger Hunt Instructions document – To help you prepare for the hunt.
Three Posters – Which you can print and post around town to help promote the event and get people to join your team

Social Media Posts & Copy

Save and share these posts on your social media accounts to encourage your network to donate to your team! Click on the images to download.

“On September 23-24th, I’ll be challenging myself to (insert activity) to raise funds for melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer and ocular melanoma patients during #Move4Melanoma. As you may know, I was (or my mother/husband/sister/father/brother etc.) diagnosed with (insert type of cancer) in (insert year). What you may not know is that melanoma and other types of skin cancer are being diagnosed at an alarming rate, and that cancer patients need our help.

I ask that you please consider supporting me in fundraising for patients in need, so that everyone diagnosed with (insert disease) may have the same chances of survival. Every dollar donated will go directly to a patient in need in the form of treatment costs, flights, accommodation and other necessary but costly expenses incurred while receiving treatment. Thanks in advance for your generosity. Donate here.”

ASCO 2023 Data Report

Earlier this summer, Save Your Skin was fortunate enough to attend the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, in order to hear the latest data from melanoma clinical trials. We are pleased to present the highlights from these exciting studies in our annual ASCO report, which this year includes data from trials relating to melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), and uveal (ocular) melanoma. Please keep in mind that ASCO is an international association, and therefore studies outlined in this report are not exclusive to Canada.

This report includes:

Trial updates related to melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), and uveal (ocular) melanoma
A glossary of abbreviations used in the report
A selection of melanoma-related news articles from the summer for supplemental reading

You can read the report here or by clicking on the cover image below. Thank you for reading!

A new framework for co-creating telehealth for cancer care with the patient community

Louise Binder from SYSF co-authored an excellent and insightful publication titled “A New Framework for Co-Creating Telehealth for Cancer Care with the Patient Community” published in The Patient – Patient-Centered Outcomes Research. Check it out here.

Patient Fireside Sunshine Chit-Chat: A Virtual Summer Catch-Up

5-6 PM PT | 8-9 PM ET

AUGUST TOPIC

Fireside Sunshine Chit-Chat: A Virtual Summer Catch-Up

This call will last 1 hour!

Fireside Sunshine Chit-Chat: A Virtual Summer Catch-Up

We are delighted to invite you to our upcoming Fireside Chat, where we will embrace the carefree spirit of summer and bask in the sunny side of support! 🌞

This month’s chat will be a summer-themed get-together filled with meaningful conversations and connections. Instead of adhering to a specific agenda, we have designed a relaxed environment for engaging discussions and positive interactions. 🏖️

Whether you have experienced cancer firsthand, are a survivor, a dedicated caregiver, or simply seek understanding companionship, this gathering is tailored to suit your needs. Join us as we share personal journeys, catch up, lend empathetic ears, and forge lasting bonds that will illuminate this summer season. 🌈

Our aim is to cultivate a support community that radiates warmth and comfort. So mark your calendars, share the news, and let’s create unforgettable memories this summer! We look forward to seeing you there!

REGISTER TODAY!

Embracing Connections: A Virtual Gathering for Ocumel Canada

Join us on July 12, 2023, at 5pm PST/8pm EST for a special virtual get-together hosted by Ocumel Canada. This unique event aims to create a safe and supportive space that fosters kindness and understanding.

Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or anyone affected by Ocular/Uveal Melanoma, we invite you to come together for an hour-long call filled with inspiration and connection. Share your experiences, find solace in the company of others who understand, and discover the power of a compassionate community.

During this virtual gathering, we’ll provide a platform for open dialogue, encouraging participants to discuss whatever is on their minds. Together, we can uplift and empower one another as we navigate the complexities of living with Ocular/Uveal Melanoma.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, exchange stories, and find strength in shared experiences. Register now and mark your calendar for an evening of support, resilience, and hope. Let us stand united in the face of Ocular/Uveal Melanoma.

Please let me know your thoughts! Once you do, our team can begin promoting this on our website & social pages. On Monday we will brainstorm how this call should be ran but if you have any ideas please feel free to let me know.

REGISTER HERE!

Move for Melanoma

Move for Melanoma is an activity challenge that takes place across Canada. The goal of the event is to bring awareness to melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer and ocular melanoma, while raising funds to support patients affected with these diseases when they need it most.

This year, the event will take place on September 22-24, 2023. As always, participants will be able to choose a physical challenge of their choice to complete on the weekend of the event. Participants will form teams and, together with their friends and family, try to reach their personal fundraising goals.

We’ve made it super easy for you to participate! To get started, sign up here. You can register as a Team Captain, as an individual or join an existing team. Once you’ve registered, we’ll email you some resources to help you recruit team members and encourage people to start donating to your team.

Then, on the weekend of Sept. 22-24, we’ll invite you to complete your chosen activity and take lots of pictures to capture the fun.

Learn More & Register

Types of Ocular Melanoma

Ocular/Uveal Melanoma

Conjunctival Melanoma

Diagnosis and Prognosis Melanoma on the Eye

Treatment Options

We are here to help. Call us at 1-800-460-5832 or email info@saveyourskin.ca

Creating a Shared Vision of Progress and Hope

Navigate to Topics

Highlights

Dramatic Evolution in Research Landscape

Industry Partner Presentations

Discussion Points

Liver-Directed Therapy – Pros and Cons

1. Liver-Directed Therapy:

2. Systemic Therapy:

3. Combination Therapy:

Data Highlights and Proposed Studies

TriSalus

Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion (PHP)

Combination Trial Designs

Adjuvant and Neo-Adjuvant Clinical Trials

Tebentafusp in Practice

Systemic Therapies Highlights

Patient-Powered VISION Registry

We are here to help. Call us at 1-800-460-5832 or email info@saveyourskin.ca

Learn about our other resources for ocular melanoma patients:

Video wrap up

We’d also like to highlight the three fundraising teams that raised the most this year.

Finally, we’d like to acknowledge the many businesses that stepped up to support our event this year. Please show them your support!

Empowerment Through Connection: Join us during Mental Health Week for a special webinar tailored to individuals actively managing their cancer diagnosis, caregivers providing unwavering support, survivors navigating the aftermath, and anyone touched by cancer.

As we eagerly approach the month of September, our excitement grows as we prepare to shine a spotlight on the amazing accomplishments of our community.

Fundraising Tips

Social Media Posts & Copy

AUGUST TOPIC

Fireside Sunshine Chit-Chat: A Virtual Summer Catch-Up

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