T-VEC for melanoma

T-VEC is designed to be injected into certain melanoma lesions. It is modified to replicate mainly in tumour cells and stimulate an immune response. It is not suitable for every melanoma, and it does not replace examination, pathology, staging, or surgery when a lesion can be removed.

Your team may assess the number, size, location, and accessibility of lesions, as well as immune health and other treatments. Melanoma care can also involve surgical excision, sentinel lymph node biopsy, immunotherapy, or follow-up after cancer treatment, depending on the individual situation.

Bring your pathology and imaging information and a list of medicines, including immune-suppressing treatments. Ask which lesions would be injected, how visits will be arranged, how response will be checked, and whether other therapies should be used before, after, or instead of T-VEC. Tell the team about fever, active infections, pregnancy, immune conditions, or medicines that affect immunity.

Contact the treatment team promptly for persistent fever, chills, worsening redness or pain at an injection site, drainage, severe weakness, or a new widespread rash. Seek urgent help for breathing difficulty, facial swelling, confusion, or collapse. New neurological symptoms such as severe headache, seizure, weakness, or speech trouble require emergency assessment and are not a reason to wait for the next appointment.

Ask: Is T-VEC appropriate for my melanoma and its stage? Which lesions can be reached safely? What other treatments are relevant? How will we judge response? Which side effects need same-day advice? Who should I contact outside clinic hours?