Home / Health / Young woman loses eye to rare cancer
Young woman loses eye to rare cancer
9 Nov
Summary
- Amy Cottingham was diagnosed with ocular melanoma.
- She underwent surgical removal of her eye.
- The cancer is rare, with few diagnoses annually in the UK.
Amy Cottingham, a 29-year-old woman, recently underwent an enucleation, the surgical removal of her eye, due to a diagnosis of ocular melanoma. This rare cancer, which affects approximately 750 people annually in the UK, led to the life-altering procedure.
Cottingham first noticed subtle blurry vision in one eye in May, months after a happy engagement trip to Nepal. Initially thinking she might need glasses, her optician noted unusual macular thickening. Further investigation led to a shocking cancer diagnosis.
She emphasized that cancer can impact anyone, regardless of age, challenging the common perception of cancer patients being older and visibly unwell. The average age for this diagnosis is in the 60s, making her situation particularly unique.
Following surgery on August 10, 2026, Amy received a prosthetic eye six weeks later. She is now raising awareness and funds for Ocular Melanoma UK by training for the Brighton Marathon, scheduled for April 4, 2027, to encourage regular eye check-ups and self-advocacy.
