The Eye Believe Podcast

Eat Better, Feel Better | The Eye Believe Podcast

In this episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we’re joined by Sheri and Leah Wernecke, the mother-daughter team behind Wernecke Wellness, to talk about the power of nutrition in honor of National Nutrition Month.

 

Drawing from their own health journeys, Sheri and Leah share simple, practical, and actionable tips that can help improve overall health, boost energy levels, and support how we feel day-to-day. Their approach focuses on looking at the body as a whole—going beyond symptoms to understand how nutrition and lifestyle choices can make a meaningful difference.

 

Sheri and Leah founded Wernecke Wellness after their personal health struggles led them to search for deeper answers. Today, they help others take a more holistic approach to wellness by listening closely, identifying root causes, and guiding people toward sustainable health.

 

Whether you’re navigating illness or simply looking to feel better in your daily life, this episode offers approachable guidance and encouraging reminders that small steps can lead to meaningful change.

My 15 Years | Episode 4: Ocular Melanoma Misconceptions & Early Advocacy

Ocular melanoma is one of the rarest forms of cancer — and because of that, it’s often misunderstood.

 

In Episode 4 of My 15 Years, Melody talks about some of the most common misconceptions surrounding ocular melanoma, including funding challenges that come with such a rare diagnosis.

 

She also reflects on what advocacy looked like in the early days of her journey, when awareness of ocular melanoma was limited and resources for patients were far fewer than they are today. Melody shares how those early experiences helped shape her commitment to raising awareness and supporting the ocular melanoma community.

 

This episode sheds light on the realities of living with a rare cancer and the importance of advocacy, education, and community.

🔔 Subscribe to follow the full My 15 Years series

💙 Learn more about A Cure in Sight

🤝 Support ocular melanoma research and awareness: https://acureinsight.org/donate/

Standardizing MUM Surveillance: COOG Panel Discussion | The Eye Believe Podcast

In this special episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we bring together six leading experts to discuss newly established consensus guidelines for metastatic uveal melanoma (MUM) surveillance.

 

Through a modified Delphi panel led by the Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group (COOG), 41 experts from more than 25 centers worked to create standardized surveillance recommendations in an area where high-level evidence remains limited.

 

Joining us for this conversation are:

Dr. Sunandana Chandra

Dr. Juan Alban

Dr. Meredith McKean

Dr. Jose Lutzky

Dr. Scott Walter

Dr. Sanjay Chandrasekaran

 

Together, they break down:

-How the Delphi process was used to achieve expert consensus

-Why risk-stratified surveillance (including molecular markers like GEP and PRAME, chromosomal findings, and clinical tumor features) is central to these recommendations

-How standardized monitoring can improve early detection of metastatic disease

-The importance of balancing surveillance benefits with potential risks and patient burden

 

This panel represents a major step forward in aligning care practices and providing clearer guidance for patients and providers navigating metastatic risk in uveal melanoma.

Whether you are a patient, caregiver, or clinician, this episode offers valuable insight into how expert collaboration is shaping the future of uveal melanoma care.

Where to Turn for Help: OM Resources Beyond Treatment | The Eye Believe Podcast

In this episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we welcome back returning guest Ashley McCrary, founder of the Eye On Grace Foundation.

 

Ashley joins Danet to share valuable insight into the many resources available to ocular melanoma patients and families navigating diagnosis, treatment, and beyond. While she discusses the mission and support offered through Eye On Grace Foundation, this conversation goes even further—highlighting a wide range of organizations, financial assistance programs, and resources that can help ease the burden patients often face.

 

From travel support and financial aid to community connection and advocacy, Ashley and Danet provide guidance on where to turn and how to access meaningful help during the cancer journey.

 

If you or a loved one are looking for support, this episode offers encouragement, direction, and tangible next steps to ensure you don’t have to navigate ocular melanoma alone.

 

Stay tuned for the full resources guide!

Using TikTok to Empower Patients with Dr. Zack Oakey | The Eye Believe Podcast

In this episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Zack Oakey, a board-certified ophthalmologist and ocular oncologist with extensive training in retinal disease and ocular oncology.

 

Dr. Oakey shares his unique approach to using social media—especially TikTok—to educate patients, combat misinformation, and make complex ocular melanoma topics more accessible. Drawing from his training at institutions including the NIH, UC Irvine, the University of Wisconsin, and the Cleveland Clinic’s Cole Eye Institute, he offers valuable insight into how trusted medical information can reach patients where they already are.

 

This episode blends medical expertise with modern communication, offering both reassurance and actionable information for patients, caregivers, and advocates alike.

 

Tune in to hear how education, accessibility, and innovation can make a real difference in the OM community.

How Oncology Social Workers Help Patients Find Resources | The Eye Believe Podcast

In this episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we’re joined by Molly Vocino, LCSW, an oncology social worker at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia.

 

Molly is passionate about ensuring all people have access to quality healthcare and compassionate support—especially individuals and families navigating serious illness.

 

In this conversation, she helps patients better understand the types of professionals available to support them throughout their cancer journey and how oncology social workers can play a critical role in care.

 

Together, we explore:

What oncology social workers do and how they support patients and families

How to find and access resources, including financial assistance and practical support

Why emotional, social, and logistical care are just as important as medical treatment

 

This episode is a valuable guide for anyone facing cancer who may not know where to turn for help—or what support is available beyond the exam room.

My 15 Years | Episode 3: Ocular Melanoma 101 & My Treatment Experience

Episode 3: Ocular Melanoma 101 & My Treatment Experience

 

Understanding a rare cancer can feel overwhelming — especially at the moment of diagnosis.

 

n Episode 3 of My 15 Years, Melody breaks down the basics of ocular melanoma (OM 101) in a clear, approachable way. She explains what ocular melanoma is, and how she felt as a newly diagnosed patients.

 

Melody also goes deeper into her personal treatment experience, sharing what plaque brachytherapy was like — from preparing for the procedure to living through treatment and recovery.

 

This episode is designed to help patients, caregivers, and loved ones better understand ocular melanoma, while grounding the information in real lived experience.

 

Rare Cancer. Resilient Hope. Revolutionary Research.

🔔 Subscribe to follow the full My 15 Years series

💙 Learn more about A Cure in Sight

🤝 Support ocular melanoma research and awareness

I Didn't Ask For Any Of This | The Eye Believe Podcast

In this powerful episode of the Eye Believe Podcast, we are honored to be joined by Allan Finnegan—a reverend, comedian, and former Britain’s Got Talent finalist—who is living with metastatic ocular melanoma.

 

Allan shares an extraordinary, hope-filled conversation about life, faith, purpose, and finding light even in the most difficult seasons. With honesty, warmth, and humor, he reflects on what it means to live fully, love deeply, and hold onto hope through uncertainty.

 

We also discuss Allan’s new book, “I Didn’t Ask for Any of This,” a moving and uplifting perspective on navigating the unexpected challenges of life. Get your copy here- https://amzn.to/3MfTmXD (affiliate links help support OM patients)

 

This episode is a reminder of the strength of the human spirit, the power of laughter, and the resilience that hope can bring. Tune in for an unforgettable interview that will stay with you long after it ends.

My 15 Years | Episode 2: Mental Health After Diagnosis

A cancer diagnosis doesn’t just affect the body — it touches every part of life.

 

In Episode 2 of My 15 Years, released during Mental Health Month, Melody opens up about the emotional reality of the months following her ocular melanoma diagnosis. She shares the fear, grief, and isolation she experienced, how her marriage began to fall apart, and the complex ways she related to her family during that time.

 

This episode is an honest conversation about mental health, relationships, and the invisible weight that often follows a life-altering diagnosis — especially when that diagnosis is rare.

 

Looking back 15 years later, Melody also reflects on what she wishes she had known then, offering thoughtful takeaways and perspective shaped by time, healing, and survivorship.

 

This episode is for anyone navigating the emotional aftermath of diagnosis — and for those supporting someone who is.

 

Rare Cancer. Resilient Hope. Revolutionary Research.

 

🔔 Subscribe to follow the full My 15 Years series

💙 Learn more about A Cure in Sight

🤝 Support ocular melanoma research and awareness

My 15 Years | Episode 1: My Diagnosis

Episode 1: My Diagnosis

Fifteen years ago, Melody heard the words that would change her life forever: you have ocular melanoma.

In the first episode of My 15 Years, Melody — founder and president of A Cure in Sight — shares an overview of her diagnosis and the moments surrounding it. From the initial symptoms and medical appointments to the shock, fear, and uncertainty that followed, this episode begins the story at its starting point.

This conversation lays the foundation for the series, offering an honest look at what it’s like to receive a rare cancer diagnosis and begin navigating a future filled with unknowns.

This episode is for patients, survivors, caregivers, and anyone facing a diagnosis they never expected.

Thank you for being here — and for walking this journey with us.

Rare Cancer. Resilient Hope. Revolutionary Research.

🔔 Subscribe to follow the full My 15 Years series

💙 Learn more about A Cure in Sight

🤝 Support ocular melanoma research and awareness