Articles & Publications

This table provides a side-by-side comparison of 25 major cancer types ranked by prevalence, aggressiveness, and curability based on the latest available data for 2025.

Prevalence Rank indicates how common the cancer is in the U.S. based on annual new case estimates.

Aggressiveness Rank reflects how quickly the cancer typically progresses and its potential to metastasize or cause death.

Curability Rank considers the general likelihood of long-term survival or remission based on current treatments.

This table is meant as an educational overview - not a substitute for medical advice.

🔍 Where Ocular Melanoma Stands in Top 25 Rankings

Prevalence: 23rd
~3,100 U.S. cases/year; rare

Aggressiveness: 7th
High risk of metastasis, particularly to liver

Curability: 7th (from least curable) | Curable if local; poor prognosis if metastatic

On July 22, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Complete Response Letter rejecting Replimune’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for RP1 in combination with nivolumab for the treatment of advanced melanoma. According to Replimune, the FDA cited concerns regarding the design of the IGNYTE trial, specifically noting the lack of a well-controlled study structure and insufficient patient population diversity.

In simple terms, the GNAQ and GNA11 mutations are like broken light switches that keep telling the eye’s pigment cells to grow, even when they should stop. This constant message causes the cells to grow into a tumor.

While we don’t yet have a cure that targets these specific mutations, understanding them gives doctors and researchers a clearer picture of how uveal melanoma begins, which is an important step toward finding better treatments in the future.

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. While it represents only about 1 percent of all skin cancer diagnoses, it accounts for the vast majority of skin cancer-related deaths.

When melanocytes become malignant, their potential to spread quickly and resist treatment makes them particularly dangerous. In the case of ocular melanoma, symptoms may be minimal or absent until the disease is quite advanced.

This makes routine eye exams and early detection especially important, particularly for individuals with risk factors such as light eye color, choroidal nevi, or a family history of melanoma.

Cancer remains one of the most complex and challenging diseases known to medicine. While there are many types of cancer, they all share a fundamental trait: uncontrolled cell growth. To understand how cancer develops and spreads, we must first look at how normal cells function - and what happens when that process goes awry.

As we confront the current realities of the American economy, it is crucial to approach change with clarity and reason - not fear and overreaction - to seize the opportunity to shift the conversation toward productive, forward-thinking solutions, such as investing in biomedical research to cure deadly cancers like melanoma.

In a time marked by budget surpluses, reduced wasteful spending, and more careful evaluation of how federal grants are allocated, the United States and Americans stand at a pivotal moment. We have a historic opportunity to redirect public discussion and investment toward biomedical research - an area that not only saves lives but also drives innovation and strengthens the economy.

Strategic investments in biomedical research, including targeted efforts on melanoma and rare ocular cancers, represent more than sound health policy - they are a commitment to national prosperity, enhanced quality of life, and sustained global leadership.

Exercise to Live Strong. Be Strong. Stay Strong.

In a world filled with health challenges, emotional stress, and the ongoing fight against chronic illness, one powerful prescription is available to everyone - Exercise.

Whether you're in your thirties, forties, or over fifty, living with a chronic condition or recovering from cancer, staying physically active is one of the most important steps you can take toward a healthier, happier, and holistic life.

In the hustle of everyday life, it’s easy to grab whatever is quick and convenient to eat. But what we put into our bodies has a profound effect not just on our waistlines, but on our energy, mood, sleep, mental clarity, and overall quality of life.

The good news? You have more control than you think. Taking charge of your diet is one of the most empowering steps you can take toward living your best life.

In our fast-paced, screen-dominated world, eye care often takes a back seat to other health concerns. Yet our eyes are not only essential for daily function - they are also windows to our overall health. Taking charge of your eye care means being proactive, informed, and consistent about protecting your vision and preventing future problems. Whether you’re young or aging, have perfect vision or wear glasses, prioritizing your eye health is crucial.

Navigating ocular melanoma is a complex and deeply personal journey that begins with an often-silent diagnosis and unfolds through difficult treatment decisions, ongoing surveillance for metastasis, and the emotional, mental, and physical challenges that follow. From the first signs to the emotional and practical realities of life after diagnosis, to the transformative power of sharing your story, the goal is clear: to bring clarity, empowerment, and purpose to every step of the journey.

This article is a roadmap for patients, caregivers, and advocates to better understand and navigate the complexities of ocular melanoma. It explores each stage - from recognizing symptoms and understanding treatment options, to coping with uncertainty, finding support, and redefining life with purpose. It also highlights the power of advocacy and community, encouraging patients, caregivers, and advocates to raise awareness, support research, and inspire hope in the fight to cure ocular melanoma.

If we want to improve understanding, increase support, and drive research, we need to change how we talk about these cancers. We need to use terms that honor the gravity of the diagnosis and educate others without needing a biology lesson. Saying ocular cancer immediately signals that this is not a skin issue - it’s an eye issue, and a serious one.

This shift isn’t just for the public. It’s for the patients who feel invisible. For the caregivers who struggle to explain what their loved one is going through. For the advocates fighting for funding in a world that often forgets about the rare diseases that have deadly consequences for many.

A cancer diagnosis is more than just a medical moment - it’s an emotional earthquake. Whether it’s breast, lung, prostate, or a rare cancer like Ocular Melanoma, hearing the words “you have cancer” creates a ripple effect that reaches far beyond the patient. It strikes at the emotional core of families, friends, and caregivers, often changing the course of their lives forever.

Cancer remains one of the most pressing global health challenges. While significant attention is given to high-prevalence cancers such as breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer, rare cancers like ocular melanoma - particularly uveal melanoma - deserve deeper awareness due to their unique challenges and clinical severity. This article compares overall cancer diagnosis trends with uveal melanoma, exploring how its rarity contrasts with its seriousness in the broader oncological landscape.

Ocular melanoma (OM), also known as Uveal Melanoma (UM), is a rare but potentially life-threatening cancer that develops within the eye. It begins in melanocytes - the cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives color to our skin, hair, and eyes. While melanoma is commonly linked to the skin, these pigment cells are also found inside the eye, where they can form malignant tumors.