Viagra Melanoma Skin Cancer

Viagra Melanoma Skin Cancer
Research  has linked the use of Viagra to an increased risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Melanoma kills more than 8,600 American every year.

Viagra Lawsuit Consultations

You may be entitled to financial compensation for medical bills and other damages if you or a man you love were diagnosed with melanoma after using Viagra. To learn more about your legal rights, please contact Bernstein Liebhard LLP for a free case consultation by calling (888) 994-5118.

Breaking Viagra News

On April 7, 2016, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) centralized all federally-filed Viagra melanoma claims in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.  Initially, 15 cases will be transferred to the new litigation. Any Viagra lawsuits involving melanoma that are filed in federal courts in the future will be eligible for transfer as well.

The creation of the multidistrict litigation will allow the federal Viagra docket to undergo coordinated pretrial proceedings, including discovery. The process is intended to improve judicial efficiency and preserve the resources of the courts, parties and witnesses. All of the claims transferred to the new proceeding will maintain their own identity, and any not resolved via the multidistrict litigation process will be remanded to their original jurisdiction of filing for trial.

JAMA: Internal Medicine Study Links Viagra to Melanoma

In April 2014, a study published in JAMA: Internal Medicine suggested that men who use Viagra may be more likely to develop melanoma. The study, which was conducted by researchers at Harvard University, gathered data from 25,848 men with an average age of 65. About 6% of the subjects had used Viagra. The analysis indicated that current use of drug increased the risk for the disease by 84%. Past users had roughly double the risk of developing melanoma.

Use of Viagra did not appear to increase the risk of other skin cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.

The authors of the study surmised that the active ingredient in Viagra, sildenafil citrate, lowers levels of a cancer-fighting protein called PDE5A. This could accelerate the growth of melanoma cells.

“Sildenafil use may be associated with an increased risk of developing melanoma,” the researchers concluded. “Although this study is insufficient to alter clinical recommendations, we support a need for continued investigation of this association.”

What is Melanoma?

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It originates in the pigment-producing melanocytes in the basal layer of the skin. Melanoma occurs when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells triggers mutations that result in rapid cell division and the development of malignant tumors. The damage that leads to melanoma is most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sun exposure or tanning beds.

Melanoma Symptoms

The most common sign of melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color. Another important sign is a spot that looks different from all of the other spots on the skin.

The ABCDE rule is a good guide to use when assessing possible melanoma symptoms:

  • A is for Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
  • B is for Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred.
  • C is for Color: The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, or sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue.
  • D is for Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about ¼ inch – the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
  • E is for Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, or color.

Did You Develop Melanoma While Using Viagra? Our Attorneys Can Help.

The attorneys at Bernstein Liebhard LLP are ready to provide legal assistance to men who were diagnosed with melanoma while using Viagra. To learn more, please call (888) 994-5118.

  1. JAMA: Internal Medicine (2014) “Sildenafil Use and Increased Risk of Incident Melanoma in US Men” http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1857095
  2. American Cancer Society (2016) “Melanoma Skin Cancer” http://www.cancer.org/cancer/skincancer-melanoma/
Last Modified: April 13, 2016

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