Woman receives Rare Cancer Diagnosis After Initially Dismissing Symptoms as Dry Eyes
new York, NY – A young woman’s persistent dry eye symptoms led to a shocking diagnosis: ocular melanoma, a rare cancer affecting approximately six in one million people. Three years after her diagnosis, Sarah Dashow, now a patient advocate, is being honored for her courage and work raising awareness of the disease.
Dashow initially dismissed her symptoms, believing them to be simple dryness. However, a visit to an optometrist revealed a dark spot on her iris. Further examination confirmed her fears – she had ocular melanoma.
“It was just incredibly shocking,” Dashow told Daily Mail.”I just kept thinking, ‘How could this be happening?'”
Ocular melanoma primarily affects the uvea, the middle layer of the eye. Dashow underwent plaque brachytherapy at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins, a treatment involving a small radioactive plaque surgically placed over the tumor to kill the cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue. The treatment requires social distancing due to the radiation, but yields a lower rate of spread and recurrence.
After the plaque was removed at the end of the week, Dashow’s oncologist declared her tumor dead approximately six months later. She remains NED (no evidence of disease) and continues to receive checkups with Dr. Richard Carvajal.
Though, Dashow developed radiation retinopathy in 2023, a common side effect affecting roughly 50 percent of patients who undergo plaque brachytherapy. The condition causes progressive damage to blood vessels in the retina and can lead to glaucoma, cataracts, and blindness. Dashow currently receives injections every five weeks in her left eye to slow the progression and preserve her vision, as there is no cure for the condition.
Despite the challenges, Dashow is dedicated to raising awareness for ocular melanoma. She is this year’s recipient of the Melanoma Research Foundation’s (MRF) Courage award, to be presented at the foundation’s annual gala later this month. She credits the MRF with helping her connect with a community of other patients, stating, “It’s such an incredible organization… and without them, I don’t know if I ever would have met anyone with this cancer becuase it is so rare, and it’s really helped me sort of find a community.”
Dr. Michael Kirk, whose groundbreaking work focuses on ocular melanoma patients with liver metastasis, will also be honored at the gala, receiving the CURE OM Vision of Hope Award.
Dashow reflects on her experience with a newfound perspective. ”I try and remind myself that I have this awful thing that I was diagnosed with, and there’s a lot of uncertainty and fear as to what will happen. and at the same time, I have an incredible life and family and friends and job,” she said. “So I think I really just try to not ignore the bad. Unluckily, these were the cards I’ve been dealt, and I can suffer and be mad at the world and be bitter, or I can accept sort of what’s happened, and try to just live my life day to day. So I do think it’s helped me be more present in the moment in my life… and a little bit more level-headed. That’s the silver lining.”
