Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about eye cancers
Having access to clear, reliable information about your condition and its treatment can make your decisions easier and help you feel more in control. Understandably, some information may be difficult to process—especially at the time of diagnosis. We recommend writing down your questions before your medical appointments. Bringing someone with you to consultations can also help ensure you ask everything you want and remember the answers more easily.
Need More Information?
If you can’t find answers in the main sections of our website—Coping with cancer, Vision changes, Changes in appearance, or After eye removal—our Frequently Asked Questions section addresses many of the practical concerns you may have before, during, or after treatment.
This FAQ is not meant to replace the guidance you'll receive from your medical team. You can also find support organizations and helpful resources on our Resources page.
Still Have Questions?
If anything remains unclear, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor. They are there to listen, inform, and support you every step of the way.
My eye doctor says I have a freckle (or nevus) in my eye. Will it turn into cancer?
A nevus is a benign (non-cancerous) growth of melanocytes—pigment-producing cells—similar to a mole on the skin. These can appear on the surface of the eye or inside the eye. Eye nevi are quite common; it's estimated that up to 30% of people have at least one in or on their eye. Most of these spots will never turn into cancer.
However, there is a small risk that a nevus may transform into a malignant tumor, such as an ocular melanoma. That’s why regular follow-up with an eye specialist is essential throughout life. In some cases, when a pigmented spot is first discovered, it may not be immediately clear whether it is a harmless nevus or a small melanoma beginning to grow. Certain features may suggest a higher risk of cancerous transformation—such as the size and thickness of the lesion, the presence of orange pigment, or fluid under the retina. These signs help your eye doctor determine the need for more frequent monitoring or further testing. Regular check-ups are the best way to ensure the lesion remains benign or to catch any changes early.
Why didn't my ophthalmologist tell me more about my eye problem?
Because eye tumors are rare and their treatment highly specialized, some doctors prefer to leave the information to us.
Why was I referred if my tumor is benign?
Eye tumors are rare. Not all ophthalmologists are trained or equipped to distinguish a benign tumor from a cancerous one. Making this distinction requires both specialized expertise and advanced diagnostic tools. Even if your tumor is benign, it may still require treatment or regular monitoring. That’s why tracking the progression of benign tumors is so important—some can evolve into cancer over time. Seeing an ophthalmologist who specializes in ocular oncology is essential. Their expertise ensures an accurate diagnosis and the most appropriate care plan for your condition.
Can I bring someone with me?
Regardless of the reason for your visit to Nice—whether for a consultation, hospitalization, or accommodation during proton therapy—the presence of a companion is possible, depending on availability. Please check in advance with the secretariat of the relevant department.
How long will I stay at the center?
The length of your stay at the expert center varies depending on the type of appointment (consultation or hospitalization). Generally, consultations last only a few hours—you won’t stay overnight and will return home the same day. Hospitalizations, on the other hand, usually last several days, with arrival the day before any possible surgery and discharge the day after or the following day.
Is transportation to the expert center covered?
During your initial visit to an expert center, you may have to pay your own transport costs. However, once your cancer diagnosis has been confirmed, your travel expenses for surgery, radiotherapy and follow-up visits are covered by the Assurance Maladie. Your attending physician must declare an ALD (Affection Longue Durée) exonerating condition to the Assurance Maladie to trigger 100% coverage of your medical care.
If your home is more than 150 km from the expert center, a request for an Entente Préalable de Transport must be validated by your Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie's consulting physician. You must go through your GP to obtain the corresponding Cerfa form.
Whenever possible, use public transport or your own vehicle rather than medical transport.
Why remove my eye instead of offering me radiotherapy for my melanoma?
This situation can occur in cases of uveal melanoma (inside the eye). You may be offered eye removal surgery, called enucleation, instead of a specialized external eye radiation treatment known as proton therapy. This is usually the case if the intraocular tumor is too large. Proton therapy carries a risk of failure, with the tumor continuing to grow and/or the development of severe and painful intraocular complications weeks or months later.
If initial proton therapy fails, if tumor monitoring becomes impossible, or in cases of severe pain that does not respond to medical treatment, enucleation (sometimes following proton therapy) may be recommended.
What is the best treatment between radiotherapy and eye removal (enucleation) for melanoma?
This is a common question raised when discussing treatment options for uveal melanoma (inside the eye). Both proton therapy and enucleation surgery have their own advantages and disadvantages. The best treatment will be the one decided together by the ophthalmologist and the patient. What is important to know is that no study has shown that radiotherapy or enucleation is superior in reducing the risk of metastasis (mainly to the liver). This risk mainly depends on the aggressiveness of the intraocular tumor. Regardless of the treatment chosen, close clinical and imaging follow-up with an oncologist is essential.
Will a biopsy be done to confirm that my tumor is malignant?
When a tumor is located on the surface of the eye, a biopsy is typically performed at the same time as its removal—this is known as an excisional biopsy. It allows for both partial treatment and precise pathological analysis.
For tumors located around the eye, a biopsy may be performed prior to surgery, often using a punch biopsy, to guide diagnosis and management.
In the case of intraocular tumors, cancer can often be diagnosed without a tissue biopsy, through detailed ophthalmologic examination and imaging. A biopsy may only be considered if there is uncertainty about the tumor’s exact nature, either before or after initial treatment.
In the case of uveal melanoma, a biopsy may be proposed for prognostic purposes, to assess the risk of metastatic progression. This information helps determine whether a patient could benefit from adjuvant therapies, which are currently available as part of clinical trials.
How long does proton therapy take, and where will I stay?
Proton therapy duration
The duration of proton therapy depends on the type and location of the tumor. In general, treatment involves 4 to 8 sessions, usually delivered over two weeks, with one session per day. Your medical team will provide you with a personalized schedule based on your specific case.
Accommodation
If you live far from the treatment center and do not require medical or nursing supervision, temporary accommodation can be arranged. Proton beam therapy centers have partnerships with several nearby lodging facilities.
If you are receiving treatment in Nice, you may be accommodated at an Hospital Hospitality House (La Consolata) for the duration of your proton therapy. This facility is open to all, regardless of nationality, insurance coverage, or income level. You may come with a companion, subject to availability, with a small fee for the accompanying person, to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Feel free to speak with the coordination team for assistance.
Do the clips have to be removed after my treatment?
No. This is generally not necessary unless they cause irritation of the conjunctiva. In this case, they can be removed under local anaesthetic by your treating ophthalmologist after approval by your ophthalmologist specializing in ocular cancer.
Are clips a contraindication to MRI?
No, the clips are made of tantalum. Tantalum is a non-magnetizable (non-ferromagnetic) metal that is not a contraindication to MRI.
What follow-up care is recommended after treatment?
You will receive regular follow-up care from the ocular oncology team, in collaboration with your primary care physician and your local ophthalmologist. You will be given a personalized care plan outlining the schedule and organization of this follow-up.
Follow-up is systematic to ensure there is no tumor recurrence, progression, or the appearance of new lesions. The frequency of follow-up depends on the type of tumor. Typically, check-ups are scheduled every 6 months during the first two years and are conducted by your ocular oncology specialist. These visits include a clinical examination and imaging tests.
Why return to the expert center for follow-up care?
Ocular cancers are rare tumors, and monitoring treatment effectiveness and tolerance requires highly specialized examinations. Follow-up visits with your local ophthalmologist are scheduled alternately with specialized consultations at the expert center.
Why should I continue seeing my local ophthalmologist for follow-up care?
You should continue to see your regular ophthalmologist regularly so they stay familiar with your case and the evolution of your eye. They will be the one to perform any additional treatments (such as laser therapy, injections, or cataract surgery) if needed. Your local ophthalmologist can also see you quickly in case of sudden vision loss or eye pain, helping you avoid long travel distances if you live far from the expert center.
Will my daily life change?
Whether you can continue your work and leisure activities depends mainly on any changes in your vision. No activity is specifically prohibited, as long as your vision allows it.
How will my vision be affected?
Eye cancers are rare and do not always cause vision problems. When they do, the degree of impairment depends on several factors:
- Type of eye cancer: the tumor may be located on the surface of the eye, inside the eye (intraocular), or around it (orbital).
- Location within the eye: if the tumor affects a structure responsible for vision—such as the cornea, retina, or optic nerve—some degree of vision loss may occur. Think of the eye and brain as a camera connected to a computer: if the lens (cornea or lens), the sensor (retina), or the cable (optic nerve) is damaged, the image won’t be transmitted correctly.
- Stage of the cancer: more advanced cancers are more likely to impair vision.
The effects may range from mild vision loss to complete loss of sight in the affected eye.