12/17/2025
TLDR: Matt has eye cancer, we are going to Mexico until he has surgery to deal with it.
Hello everyone! We have had a busy few weeks with lots happening in our lives health wise. Grab a beverage of choice and get comfy because I am feeling verbose this morning and it's a long one!
For many years Matt has been monitoring a freckle in the back of his eye. Well...technically the eye doctor has. The freckle is no cause for concern unless it changes shape or size - so every year Matt gets pictures of his eyeball taken and chats with the eye doctor. 📸
His most recent eye appt was Nov 21 - the morning before we were set to fly to sunny Mazatlán Mexico. Unfortunately - the freckle has changed since his last checkup.
Last minute flight cancellations and adjusting accommodation plans killed the phone battery quicker than a Tiktoker live vlogging their visit to a "hidden gem" that everyone already knows about anyway. We managed to sort a short term plan to stay in Calgary whilst we sorted what to do next. 🪫
After more tests were completed at an oncologist eye doctor we were confident Matt wouldn't need to see anyone for at least a few weeks. So, we hopped on a Westjet flight to Mazatlán on a Friday and got settled in our condo we had booked. 🛫
At 8:30 am on Matt's birthday (on the Monday) we got a phone call from the oncologist eye doctor that he needed to see Matt urgently. By 1pm that day we were back on a plane to Calgary through Edmonton. We spent Matt's birthday at a delightful motel in Nisku Alberta. How romantic.🤦
We both felt very wealthy - and wondered if the 1% always travel like this.💰💰
No - I suspect they fly on their private jets and not standby or ultra basic economy. They certainly don't have to manage their knees pressing against the back of the seat in front of them, nor the scrum to get on and off the plane!
I shouldn't complain - we are lucky to have a Westjetter in the family who was able to use a buddy pass or two to help us sort these logistics. (If you are reading this - a million thanks) 🫂
Matt met with the oncologist eye doctor and it is confirmed the changes to his freckle (remember that detail from waaaaay back at the top of this?) are concerning and will require surgery.
To be more specific it is likely Matt has uveal melenoma - a super rare kind of eye cancer. The good news is they have caught it early and by all accounts the outcome looks to be quite positive. 🦀
The surgery involves taking a biopsy of the freckle and sewing a gold plated thing (called a plaque) that contains radiation right over the area of concern. This plaque stays on for 5 days and then it is removed.
For the squeamish amongst you - skip this next part:
The freckle is on the back of the eyeball so the procedure involves getting at that part of the eye. 👁️
I try not to picture what the doctor is actually going to do to get at it. It's like every horror movie I have ever closed my eyes at when they get to the eyeball torture scene. In reality it's probably a few muscles that need to be convinced to release the eye enough to allow access to the back of the eye. As part of the second surgery they repair any muscles that need repairing. 😨
Most of the discomfort is from the stitches and swelling on account of having a surgeon's fingers in the back of your eye socket.
Welcome back to the squeamish amongst us.
The surgery to place the gold thing and to take it out are both day surgeries. Matt will likely be in some discomfort and feel the effects of the sedation, but it sounds mild compared to other cancer treatments.
During the 5 days the patch is on he will spend it laying down - perhaps binge watching TV or sleeping. During that time he isn't allowed to be around small animals or humans as he will be radioactive. (Superhero origin story anyone?!) 🦸🦹
I am thinking I might sleep in a separate bed while he is radioactive so as to avoid growing a second head myself (or more accurately so I don't accidently hit him while I am trying to reclaim my 85% of the bed). 👽
He will be cleared to return to all activities 2 weeks after they remove the plaque. Then he has a 1 month followup appointment and then a 3 month followup.
The biopsy results will inform the follow up steps after this 3 months. Given how early it was caught we are hopeful and confident that it will just be a once every 3 or 4 month eye photoshoot and monitoring.
For the past week we have been patiently awaiting the surgery dates and the specific info we needed to know. 🗓️
We just got the dates yesterday (a great birthday gift for me!) and were able to do all the immediate things needed (X-rays, blood work, medical). The next steps are to have an eyeball ct-scan 2 weeks before the surgery so the physists can custom build the gold plaque for Matt's eye.
Good thing Matt didn't bully the science geeks in Highschool!
Feb 5 is the date of the first surgery. I wonder if Matt planned this so I will be the one to make our romantic Valentine's Day dinner as he will still not be allowed to do things like cook, shop, or raise his heart rate at all. Well played Matt, well played! 💘
I am writing this from the comfort and safety of a Westjet plane on route to Edmonton. After rotting in Edmonton for 4 hours we will climb on another plane to Mazatlán Mexico where we will stay until Matt needs to come home for the next appointments and the surgery. 🌴🏖️
We are both relieved we will be able to resurrect some of our Mexico winter plans. My mom is joining us so we will do something ridiculous for Christmas together on the beach. I promise to make Matt wear sunscreen and wear his sunglasses. 🕶️
If you want to know more about the surgery Google:
Plaque brachytherapy
We are so fortunate to have access to this surgery in our home province and city. For anyone who has ever donated or raised funds for cancer research - you are a part of the reason we are so hopeful for the outcome! 👏
This whole process has proven how lucky we are to have great people in our lives. Friends and family have rallied around us to help us sort logistics and offer words of encouragement and support.
A special shout out to Rob and Anne - not only for the two 4:30am airport transfers, but for providing emotional support while we watched both the temperatures and snow fall as we waited to hear when we could get some sand between our toes again. ⏰⏰
Thanks for reading to the end - as always we appreciate your support.
Matt and Heather
