regrowth of large tumor behind right eye

[seattlemusiclady]

My sister had surgery about 10 years ago for a benign tumor which was pushing her right eye out significantly.  The tumor regrew fairly rapidly and the opinion she had at the time was that another surgery could not be guaranteed to prevent further regrowth and that it might need to be repeated periodically. She suffered quite a lot of pain though for about a year and is afraid to try again.  She is also very low income though she does now qualify for Medicare. The tumor is quite large now, perhaps the size of a large lemon sitting on her face and drooping down onto her cheek.  She has stopped going out except to walk to my mother's house (three doors away).  My mother is now 90 and very concerned about what will happen to her daughter as she herself becomes incapacitated and can no longer live independently.  Are there resources available to deal with such a situation?  Have there been medical advances in the last ten years that might promise better success with surgery at this time.  Of course saving the eye is no longer a consideration and might make surgery more straightforward.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I am not familiar with services at the U of Arkansas.  If finances are limited you probably don't want to travel huge distances.  You could go to www.aao.org and look for a oculoplastic surgeon.

In St. Louis either Washington U or St. Louis U school of medicine Department of ophthalmology are very good.

JCH MD

[seattlemusiclady]

My sister lives in Bella Vista, AR, and has family in Kansas City.  What hospital center would you recommend in the Midwest?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Your sister obviously made a serious, maybe life-threatening error by not having the tumor removed when it was smaller. She needs to be seen at a medical center, the tumor will probably have to be debulked. Social services at the medical center can help you with your other questions. I would suggest the U of Washington Medical center.

JCH MD