Group of Auburn alumni develop eye melanoma; researchers perplexedFebruary 22, 2018 - 17:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Uveal melanoma is a rare type of cancer that affects several parts of the eye. Only about five people out of every million are diagnosed with the condition, making it extremely rare, Ledger-Enquirer reports. So why have a small group of people who attended Auburn University in the 1980s and ’90s developed the disease at roughly the same time? Nobody is sure —but researchers are struggling to find out. “This is a rare disease for which there isn’t an exact known cause,” Dr. Marlana Orloff, an oncologist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, told AL.com. “No one’s really uncovered anything that causes it yet.” The disease usually begins as what looks like a sort of freckle in the eye. But it’s actually a small tumor, which can lead to poor vision, sensations of lights and flashes, and, possibly, serious damage that can lead to the removal of the eye or the spread of the cancer throughout the body, according to the Mayo Clinic. If the cancer does spread, the prognosis isn’t good – only about 15 percent of people survive another five years, according to the American Cancer Society. This month, three women, all Auburn grads, who suffer from the disease created a Facebook page called “Auburn Ocular Melanoma Cluster.” It now has more than 700 “likes.” “We are group of people joined together through our courage, faith, and friendship,” the group’s description reads. “We are connected by an unexpected diagnosis ... Most of us (that we know of) went to Auburn between 1983 and 2001. We all have a love for Auburn University that to some is unexplainable.” Since then, the cancer has been found in other places throughout her body — but she’s still alive, more than a decade later. For now, there’s no clear answer for what may have caused the former students to develop the disease, if there was a detectable cause at all. But the affected former students are hopeful that the conference the researchers held in February will lead to some new answers. Photo. Scott Berson Ledger-Enquirer Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. Armenian Economy Minister to make trip to UAE May 20-22 A delegation led by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan will travel to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on May 20-22 Armenia Security Council chief traveling to Qatar Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will travel on a working visit to Qatar. Pillars installed in Armenian border village of Kirants In the Armenian village of Kirants, three border markers have been installed, and border guards stand next to them. |