Life-Saving Appointment: How a Last-Minute Eye Test Uncovered a Mother’s Cancer
A quick decision to book a last-minute appointment at Boots Opticians proved to be a lifesaver for Tammy Jackson, a 51-year-old mother of six from Swindon. What began as a fleeting visual disturbance escalated into a diagnosis of eye cancer, a condition she believes was caught in the nick of time thanks to the prompt action of the high street optician.
Tammy’s ordeal started with a peculiar sensation. While at work in a funeral home, she initially dismissed a brief, bright flash in her vision as a stray insect. However, a few days later, the flashing sensation recurred, and she still didn’t think much of it. The real alarm bells began to ring on the morning of September 27, 2025. Upon waking, Tammy found a significant portion of her vision obscured by a dark spot, described as being the size of a five-pence coin, right in the centre of her eye. The affected area gave the appearance of looking through smeared wet paint.
This alarming change prompted Tammy to contact her local Boots Opticians. Fortunately, a cancellation had just become available, and she was offered an appointment for 10:30 am that same morning. “I was seen quite quickly, but my gut was immediately telling me that there’s something not quite right,” Tammy recalled.
Hassan, an optometrist and Boots Macmillan Optician Professional, examined Tammy. He identified swelling in her right eye, initially suspecting a detached retina or “something else” that appeared “suspicious.” He promptly referred her to Great Western Hospital for further investigation.
Upon arrival at the hospital, however, Tammy faced a setback. The hospital had not received the scans from Boots Opticians. Rather than making her repeat the tests, she was asked to return on the following Monday. The intervening weekend was filled with anxiety. “When Monday came, I woke up and I just thought ‘it’s cancer’,” Tammy confessed. “That’s what I said to Martin, my husband.”
On September 29, Tammy underwent further tests at Great Western Hospital. She noticed the medical staff were paying particularly close attention to her right eye. After several hours, a consultant delivered the news: they had found something “sinister” and recommended transferring her care to a specialist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.
By the time her appointment at Moorfields arrived on October 9, Tammy’s condition had deteriorated rapidly. The blind spot in her vision had expanded from the size of a five-pence piece to a ten-pence piece. She was also experiencing fluid leakage, increased swelling, and persistent headaches.
The emotional toll of this period was immense. “Working in a funeral home, death stares you in the face every day, so I was planning for the future,” Tammy explained. “I just thought that if I’m going to die, I need to make sure that people know what songs I want at my funeral.” The history of cancer within her family added another layer of dread. “It was heavy because there’s a lot of cancer within my family, so I just thought my life was over.”
At Moorfields, Tammy underwent an extensive seven-hour diagnostic process. A consultant eventually revealed the diagnosis: a small choroidal melanoma. She was introduced to the Moles Scoring Chart, a system used to assess cancer risk based on five factors: mushroom shape, orange pigment, large size, enlargement, and subretinal fluid. Tammy unfortunately presented with four of these indicators, signalling a “high suspicion” of cancer.
“Just hearing those words, you automatically think that’s it,” she said, the weight of the words still evident. “Your life’s over.”
The most difficult aspect of her diagnosis was sharing the news with her six children. “The hardest thing I had to do was tell my children. Seeing their faces and the uncertainty of what was to happen next broke my heart,” Tammy shared, referring to her children Andrew (34), Joanna (33), Stewart (28), Angel (26), and step-children Jordan (27) and Abi (22).
Tammy’s treatment commenced on November 13, involving ophthalmic plaque brachytherapy. This procedure involves surgically placing a small radioactive disc, known as a plaque, onto the eye to deliver targeted radiation. Cancer Research UK explains that the duration the plaque remains in place is dependent on the thickness of the cancer. In Tammy’s case, because the cancer was detected so early, the plaque was in place for just a day and a half, significantly shorter than the usual period which can extend up to seven days.
Following the procedure, Tammy experienced swelling and blistering in her eye and was required to administer eye drops four times daily.
Currently, Tammy’s prognosis is positive. She has a follow-up appointment scheduled for May to assess the effectiveness of the treatment, after which she anticipates needing regular check-ups, either annually or semi-annually. While her general eye health has improved post-treatment, her vision has not entirely returned to its former state.
She recounted a conversation with a consultant who explained that the cancer would always be present, and the only way to eliminate it entirely would be to have her eye removed. However, due to the early detection, this “extreme” measure is considered unlikely.
Tammy’s motivation for sharing her story stems from a desire to raise awareness. “I never in a million years thought that you could get cancer in your eyes. And if that’s what I think, maybe other people think that way as well,” she stated.
Understanding the Symptoms of Eye Cancer
The NHS outlines the following potential symptoms of eye cancer:
- Flashes of light, wiggly lines, or shadows appearing in your vision.
- Blurred vision.
- A dark patch in your eye that is observed to be growing.
- A partial or complete loss of vision.
- One eye bulging outwards.
- A lump on the eyelid or within the eye that is increasing in size.
- Persistent eye irritation that does not resolve.
- Pain in or around the eye, although this is considered rare.
“The number one thing: If you’re due an eye test, have it done,” Tammy urged. “It’s really not worth putting it off. It’s all too easy. I’ve done it myself. But have the eye test done.”
She expressed profound gratitude for the swift action taken by Boots Opticians. “With Boots getting me seen so quickly and by doing the referrals – it sounds dramatic – but it’s saved my eye, but potentially also saved my life. If it weren’t for them being so fast-acting on what they were seeing, it could potentially have been missed.”
Tammy hopes her experience will encourage others to prioritise their eye health. “If my story only helps one person, then that’s one more person who’s getting the help that they need,” she concluded.
Those wishing to book an eye test with Boots Opticians can visit their website.
