Ashley McCrary - Living with Ocular Melanoma

1 Views

07/15/23

Ashley is a member of the Auburn cluster & a huge advocate for ocular melanoma & research for years!

here’s a little snippet of her story:

"I was first diagnosed when I was 42 years old. It was 2012 & I lived in Memphis, TN with my husband & 4 children, youngest was 7.

I had gone to the beach with family friends. My friend Jill, asked me about a black spot on my eye. I hadn't noticed it. I went into the bathroom & to my dismay there was an irregular black spot on my iris. I showed my husband, whose nickname for me was “Sweet eyes” & he had not noticed it either. I am ashamed to admit I went home & did nothing for about a month. I googled “change in iris color," but nothing alarming came up.

A month later, on my daughter’s birthday, my husband & I were invited to a dinner party—which we only attended since our daughter was spending time with a friend.

My husband was the administrator for an oncology group in Memphis and the dinner party was at one of the doctor’s house. While there, a friend asked me about the black spot. She had her husband look at it & he strongly suggested I see a doctor as soon as possible.

On Monday I made an appointment with a local Ophthalmologist, but being a new patient it was going to be three weeks till I could get in to see the doctor. I can not believe I am admitting this but I had never had an eye exam except during elementary school. The only “symptoms” I was having was occasional blurriness.

While running errands I saw a large sign outside a “Visionworks” that read, “FREE EYE EXAM” so I walked in & asked for an eye exam. The beautiful young Optometrist did her exam & recommended eye glasses. When she completed the exam I asked her, “What do you think about the black spot on my eye?” She sat back & said, “You do have a black spot on your eye. Let me make a phone call.” She said I needed a dialated eye exam & she got me into Dr. Mathews who was a local Ophtalmologist...& so my story really begins!"

Tune in Oct 21, 4:30 pm EST, to hear more about her diagnosis & treatment, & her journey with mets nearly a year ago this month.