Cancer has a way of changing relationships.

In Episode 16 of My 15 Years, Melody reflects on the people who were part of her life before her ocular melanoma diagnosis—and what happened to those relationships afterward.

She shares candid stories about friends, coworkers, marriage, divorce, dating, and the people who surprised her by staying… as well as those who didn’t. She talks about the hurt that can come when people pull away after a diagnosis and the lessons she’s learned about expectations, boundaries, and letting relationships evolve.

Fifteen years later, Melody sees relationships differently. Not everyone who enters our lives is meant to stay forever. Some people are there for a season, some become lifelong friends, and sometimes letting go creates space for new relationships and new versions of ourselves.

Melody also shares how those experiences have shaped the way she approaches relationships today—from choosing the people she surrounds herself with to letting go of the need for validation and worrying about what others think.

It’s an honest, funny, and sometimes unexpected conversation about cancer, connection, friendship, love, and learning that a relationship doesn’t have to last forever to have mattered.

Rare Cancer. Resilient Hope. Revolutionary Research.

🔔 Subscribe to follow the full My 15 Years series

A cancer diagnosis can bring appointments, medications, scans, paperwork—and a whole lot of mental clutter. Could getting organized make some of it a little easier?

In this episode of The Eye Believe Podcast, we’re joined by professional organizer Kelly Tait of Bee Organized to talk about simple, practical ways patients and caregivers can prepare their homes and information for treatment.

Kelly shares why organization during cancer isn't about making everything look perfect—it's about function, reducing stress, and conserving your energy for the things that matter most.

We talk about:

🏠 Preparing your space before treatment

Whether you're preparing for treatment, currently navigating cancer care, caring for someone you love, or simply feeling overwhelmed by all the stuff that comes with a diagnosis, this episode is packed with realistic ideas you can actually use.

💙 Sometimes a little organization can help create a little more breathing room.

🗂️ Looking for tools to help you get organized?

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Thank you to our sponsors for making The Eye Believe Podcast possible!

-Ideaya Biosciences

Learn more about A Cure In Sight at ACureInSight.org.

#EyeBelievePodcast #CancerSupport #CancerCare #CancerTreatment #ProfessionalOrganizer #OcularMelanoma #ACureInSight

👨‍⚕️ Who’s Looking After the Rest of You?

When you’re diagnosed with ocular melanoma, it’s easy for cancer care to become the center of your healthcare. But while your oncology team is focused on your cancer, who is looking after the rest of you?

In this episode of The Eye Believe Podcast, we welcome back Dr. Ian Kamerman, an ocular melanoma survivor and primary care physician in Australia, for a conversation about the important role primary care can play before, during, and long after a cancer diagnosis.

Ian brings a unique perspective to this discussion—not only as a physician, but as someone who has been living the ocular melanoma journey himself for more than a decade.

We talk about:

👨‍⚕️ The difference between your oncologist and your primary care physician

As Ian reminds us, having cancer doesn’t mean every health concern is about cancer. Your oncology team is an incredibly important part of your care—but they’re just one part of the team that helps take care of the whole person.

For anyone newly diagnosed, living in the “long middle,” or simply trying to navigate life after ocular melanoma, this is a conversation worth hearing.

🎧 Watch, listen and share with someone in the ocular melanoma community.

Thank you to our sponsors for making The Eye Believe Podcast possible!

-Ideaya Biosciences

Watch Ian's episode about Living in the Long Middle- https://youtu.be/dQtA1VuzfW0

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always discuss your healthcare decisions with your medical team.

#EyeBelievePodcast #OcularMelanoma #UvealMelanoma #CancerSurvivorship #CancerCare #PrimaryCare #CancerSupport #ACureInSight

“Why me?”

It’s a question many people ask after receiving a cancer diagnosis. But what happens when that question begins to consume your life?

In Episode 15 of My 15 Years, Melody opens up about the years following her ocular melanoma diagnosis and how fear, uncertainty, and a sense of victimhood became part of her identity. She candidly shares how cancer began influencing nearly every decision she made—and how her search for control sometimes led her to extremes.

Melody also talks about the therapy and deep personal work that helped her begin shifting her perspective from “Why me?” to “Why not me?” She shares how she learned to quiet the constant conversations in her head, stop allowing ocular melanoma to consume every part of her life, and begin focusing again on the people, experiences, and joy that were still right in front of her.

Fifteen years later, Melody looks back with perspective, humor, and plenty of hard-earned wisdom about accepting what we cannot control while choosing how we live with what happens to us.

If you’ve ever struggled with “Why is this happening to me?”—whether because of cancer or another life-changing experience—this conversation may resonate with you.

Rare Cancer. Resilient Hope. Revolutionary Research.

🔔 Subscribe to follow the full My 15 Years series

In this episode of What’s Up, Doc? on the Eye Believe Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Omid Hamid, Chief of Translational Research and Immuno-Oncology at The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute and Co-Director of its Melanoma and Phase I Programs.

A recognized leader in melanoma and immuno-oncology, Dr. Hamid discusses the evolving treatment landscape for ocular melanoma, the growing number of clinical trials and treatment options, and why collaboration and patient choice are so important. He also shares his excitement about where research is headed and his hope for a future where physicians have many more options to offer their patients.

Then we go beyond the white coat. Get to know Dr. Hamid as he talks about his family, what keeps him motivated through difficult days, his newfound attempt at finding Zen through golf, his love of travel and movies, and even what’s on his playlist.

Join us for a conversation about innovation, patient care, and the person behind the physician.

Learn more about A Cure In Sight: https://acureinsight.org

Thank you to our sponsors for making this possible!

Rare Cancer. Resilient Hope. Revolutionary Research.

#OcularMelanoma #EyeBelievePodcast #WhatsUpDoc #OmidHamid #Immunotherapy #ClinicalTrials #RareCancer #ACureInSight

In this episode of What's Up, Doc? on the Eye Believe Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Carol L. Shields, Chief of the Ocular Oncology Service at Wills Eye Hospital and one of the world's most recognized leaders in ocular oncology.

Dr. Shields has dedicated her career to advancing the understanding and treatment of ocular tumors, including uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma. With more than 1,400 published articles, 12 textbooks, and decades spent caring for patients from around the world, her impact on the field of ocular oncology is remarkable.

But in What's Up, Doc?, we want to know the person behind the accomplishments.

Dr. Shields takes us beyond the white coat to share more about the journey that shaped her, the drive and determination behind her career, and what continues to motivate her after decades in medicine. From her days as a student-athlete to becoming a trailblazer in ophthalmology, we get a more personal look at the experiences and values that have influenced the physician—and person—she is today.

Join us for a conversation that blends ocular oncology, patient care, life lessons, and personal stories as we get to know Dr. Carol Shields beyond the exam room.

🎧 Listen, learn, and get to know the people behind the white coats.

Learn more about A Cure In Sight: https://acureinsight.org

Thank you to our sponsors for making this possible!

Rare Cancer. Resilient Hope. Revolutionary Research.

#OcularMelanoma #EyeBelievePodcast #WhatsUpDoc #CarolShields #WillsEye #OcularOncology #UvealMelanoma #EyeCancer #RareCancer #ACureInSight

🧬 The Living Library of Uveal Melanoma with Dr. Lauren Dalvin

What if researchers could study uveal melanoma using models created from real patient tumors?

In this episode of The Eye Believe Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Lauren Dalvin of Mayo Clinic to explore the Living Library of Uveal Melanoma—an innovative research effort using patient-derived organoid models to help scientists better understand this rare cancer.

Dr. Dalvin explains why the models used in cancer research matter, some of the limitations of traditional cell lines, and how organoids created from patient tumor samples may provide researchers with a more representative way to study uveal melanoma.

We also talk about how the Living Library is growing, how researchers can use these models to investigate drugs and drug combinations, and the potential for this work to help inform more personalized approaches to research and future clinical trials.

🔬 What are organoids—and how are they created?

Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, researcher, or simply interested in where uveal melanoma research is headed, this is a fascinating conversation about building better tools to answer some of the biggest questions facing our community.

🎧 Watch, listen, and share this episode with the OM community!

Thank you to our sponsors for making this possible!

#EyeBelievePodcast #UvealMelanoma #OcularMelanoma #CancerResearch #MayoClinic #Organoids #RareCancer #ACureInSight

Caregiving can be an act of deep love—but it can also take a physical and emotional toll, especially when the caregiver is facing health challenges of their own.

In Episode 14 of Melody’s 15-year series, she shares her experience caring for her mother through dementia while navigating her own ocular melanoma diagnosis. Melody discusses the complicated reality of being the person others depend on while also reaching moments when you need care and support yourself.

Whether you are supporting a loved one, living with cancer, or trying to balance both roles at once, this episode is a reminder that you do not have to carry everything alone.

💙 Support our mission: https://acureinsight.org/donate/

💬 Join our support group: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/780974096#success

Episode featuring social worker Molly Vocino- https://youtu.be/Lbl3f51dZAE?si=Qto4v3zbWSvjIXJC

What does it mean to live well with ocular melanoma for more than a decade?

In this episode of Living in the Long Middle, we're joined by Dr. Ian Kamerman, a physician from Australia who has been living with ocular melanoma for 14 years. Ian shares his personal journey—from the shock of his initial diagnosis to navigating survivorship while continuing to care for patients as a physician.

With the unique perspective of both a doctor and an ocular melanoma survivor, Dr. Kamerman reflects on the lessons he's learned, the challenges he's faced, and how life has evolved over the years. His story is one of resilience, hope, and finding purpose in the "long middle"—the years between diagnosis and whatever comes next.

Whether you're newly diagnosed, years into survivorship, or supporting a loved one with ocular melanoma, Ian's story is a powerful reminder that life continues beyond diagnosis—and that you're not alone.

🎉 Meet Dr. Ian Kamerman in person! Dr. Kamerman will be joining us at the Eye Believe Survivorship Seminar, taking place October 1–3 in Dallas, Texas. Join Ian, leading ocular oncology experts, and the A Cure In Sight team for three days of education, connection, and community.

Register today: https://acureinsight.org/education-events/

Learn more about A Cure In Sight: https://acureinsight.org

A special thank you to our podcast sponsors:

Ideaya Biosciences

Delcath Systems

Aura Biosciences

Castle Biosciences

Immunocore

Natera

Their support helps us continue bringing meaningful conversations, education, and hope to the ocular melanoma community.

🎥 Technical Note: You may notice the audio and video are occasionally out of sync during this episode due to a recording issue. We've corrected it as much as possible in editing, but we didn't want a technical hiccup to keep us from sharing Ian's inspiring story. Thank you for your understanding—we think this conversation is well worth it!

#OcularMelanoma #LivingInTheLongMiddle #EyeBelievePodcast #CancerSurvivor #RareCancer #Survivorship #PatientStory #ACureInSight #EyeBelieve2026 #DallasTexas

What if one decision today could help unlock tomorrow's breakthrough treatments for ocular melanoma?

In this episode of The Eye Believe Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Justin Moser to explore the INSIGHT Biobank—what it is, how it began, why it's so important, and the incredible impact it could have on the future of ocular melanoma research.

Dr. Moser explains how donated tissue and blood samples help researchers better understand this rare cancer, identify new treatment targets, and accelerate discoveries that could benefit patients for generations to come. Most importantly, he shares why the success of the biobank depends on one thing: our community's participation.

Whether you're newly diagnosed, living with ocular melanoma, or supporting someone who is, this episode will help you understand how you can play a direct role in advancing research and improving outcomes for future patients.

Join the INSIGHT Biobank today:

Learn more about A Cure In Sight:

A special thank you to our podcast sponsors:

Their support helps make conversations like these possible while advancing education and awareness throughout the ocular melanoma community.

#OcularMelanoma #EyeBelievePodcast #Biobank #CancerResearch #RareCancer #ClinicalResearch #PatientAdvocacy #ACureInSight #INSIGHTBiobank #ResearchSavesLives