Unlike conjunctivitis, episcleritis isn’t caused by an infection. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can sometimes occur without a clear trigger but is also associated with systemic inflammatory conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
According to Oxford University Hospitals, some case reports have documented episcleritis in individuals with cancer, either linked to the cancer itself or as a potential side effect of therapy.
‘Mind-blowing’ realization
“Your eye, being an organ, will respond in unique ways to things happening in your body,” said the mom, who was prescribed steroid eye drops to treat the condition that was expected to recur during treatment.
“Episcleritis was my first real, tangible symptom that I had,” she said of her startling realization. “I thought it was fascinating and also crazy and mind-blowing that your body really does know what’s going on far before any normal diagnostics could make sense of it.”
Treatment and recovery
Mann completed 12 rounds of chemotherapy, followed by a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction in late 2023. In March 2024, she had an exchange surgery, where temporary tissue expanders were replaced with permanent implants. Her targeted therapy treatments continued through October 2024.
The physical toll was intense, she said, adding that one side effect was a “really intense chemo rash.”
But she said she had “three little souls watching me and worried about me” and refused to give up.
Today, as part of her ongoing cancer prevention plan, Mann receives a monthly ovarian suppression injection and takes aromatase inhibitors. These therapies induce medical menopause – and with it, a long list of symptoms.
Continue reading…
