Karina Basso  |  August 28, 2014

Category: Legal News

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viagra skin cancerEarlier this year, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a research study with evidence of a strong link between use of Viagra (sildenafil) and an increased risk of melanoma skin cancer.

While the study cannot conclusively state that the popular erectile dysfunction drug causes a person to develop melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, it does show that the research participants taking Viagra were more likely to develop melanoma than their non-Viagra counterparts. As a result of this study and reports linking Viagra with increased cases of melanoma skin cancer, many men have opted to file Viagra melanoma lawsuits and may join nascent Viagra melanoma class action lawsuits.

Melanoma Signs and Causes

Melanoma skin cancer begins to spread in the melanin (pigment producing) cells within the body. Melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer a person may develop, making up only 2 percent of all documented skin cancer cases. However, while rare, it is the most dangerous form of skin cancer and early detection and treatment of melanoma increases a cancer patient’s chance of survival.

According to the American Cancer Society, early signs of melanoma include:

  • New dark splotches or spots on the skin
  • Growth or shape change of existing moles or birthmarks
  • Non-healing sores
  • Spread of pigment from a spot
  • Redness and/or swelling beyond the original border of spot or birthmark
  • Sudden itchiness, tenderness, and pain
  • Scaling, oozing, or bleeding of a surface mole
  • Appearance of a bump or nodule

There are few different causes of melanoma skin cancer. Like many diseases, genetics are a major factor as to whether an individual may develop skin cancer during the course of his/her life. Over the course of several generations, rare DNA mutations can occur and are eventually passed on to offspring. In the case of this deadly form of skin cancer, family history of skin cancer can indicate an individual’s likelihood of developing melanoma.

While genetics do play a major role in determining a person’s risk of melanoma, everyone can reduce their risk of developing melanoma skin cancer by avoiding another cause of melanoma, such as excessive exposure to UV light. Melanoma, like most cancers, is caused primarily by damaged DNA, which can occur through generations of mutations, but DNA can also be damaged from overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. When an individual is exposed to the sun’s rays without protection for extended periods of time, they are unknowingly damaging the DNA in their melanin cells, which increases their risk of developing skin cancer. Tanning beds also use UV radiation to darken skin and can also increase an person’s risk of melanoma.

Viagra linked with Increased Risk of Melanoma

The JAMA research study published earlier this summer stated that the men participating in this study who were using Viagra were 84 percent more likely to develop melanoma skin cancer than their counterparts not taking the Pfizer drug. This study was conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and uses data from 2000 until 2010. This 10-year research study followed a total of 26,000 male research participants.

According to the JAMA study, 3,500 of 26,000 male participants developed skin cancer, which was allegedly caused by their use of Viagra. Of the 3,500 skin cancer patients, 142 specifically developed melanoma. The Harvard researchers took in other risk factors, including genetics and previous UV damage, into account and found that these additional causes of melanoma did not affect the findings of the study. This may suggest that men taking Viagra are more likely to develop melanoma because of their use of the Pfizer drug.

In general, Viagra melanoma lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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