What Is Melanoma?

Melanoma is an uncommon but serious type of skin cancer. It can develop anywhere on your body, often starting as a:

• Mole
• Sore
• Bump
• Scaly patch
• Other type of mark 

The vast majority of melanoma cases are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight or tanning beds. UV radiation can damage the DNA of your skin cells. If those damaged cells start multiplying, you can develop melanoma.

Melanoma grows and spreads faster than other types of skin cancer, so it’s very important to tell your doctor right away if you feel unsure about a mark on your skin. 

When caught early enough, the five-year survival rate for melanoma is 98%. Even with those odds, it still feels scary and overwhelming to get a melanoma diagnosis—but you do have several options for treatment, including injectable therapy. 

How Does Injectable Therapy for Melanoma Work?

Mercy Medical Center primarily uses a type of injectable therapy known as oncolytic virus therapy.

Here’s how it works: When a virus enters your body, its goal is to infect and destroy your cells. However, scientists have found a way to modify certain viruses so that they are only able to infect and destroy cancer cells, while leaving most of your healthy cells alone. These are called oncolytic viruses.

Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is an oncolytic virus that can kill cancer cells in patients with melanoma. To administer a T-VEC dose, your doctor injects it directly into your melanoma tumor(s) that are:

• On the surface of your skin
• Under your skin
• In your lymph nodes

Is Injectable Therapy for Melanoma Right for Me?

Your surgical oncologist will determine if T-VEC is the best treatment option for you. T-VEC is often helpful if you:

• Experience recurrent melanoma
• Have melanoma that cannot be surgically removed
• Have not found success with other treatments

However, T-VEC may not be right for you if you:

• Have melanoma that is advanced and has spread to your organs
• Are pregnant
• Are immunocompromised (i.e., have a weakened immune system) due to:
  • Illness (rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, type 1 diabetes, lupus, certain cancers, etc.)
  • Age
  • Medication use
  • Tobacco use
  • Steroid use
  • Certain medical treatments (chemotherapy, autoimmune disease treatment, corticosteroids, etc.)

Can Injectable Therapy for Melanoma Cause Side Effects?

Yes, T-VEC can cause some side effects, such as:

• Fever
• Headache
• Body chills
• Fatigue and weakness
• Muscle aches
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Pain at the injection site
• Pain in your joints and/or arms and legs
• Swelling and/or pain in your hands and feet

Does Injectable Therapy for Melanoma Work for Everyone?

No, T-VEC does not work for every melanoma patient. If it does not work for you, there are other treatment options available.

Will Injectable Therapy Cure My Melanoma?

No, T-VEC alone will not cure your melanoma. However, if your melanoma is caught early, T-VEC can be one element of a larger treatment plan that does cure you.