A Kentucky man has filed a Viagra melanoma lawsuit against Pfizer Inc., alleging that side effects of Viagra caused him to develop the aggressive skin cancer. The Viagra melanoma lawsuit was filed April 6 and brings allegations against Pfizer for negligence and wrongful conduct in the design, development, manufacture and sale of Viagra.

According to the Viagra skin cancer lawsuit, William H. began treatment for erectile dysfunction in 2009. After taking the Pfizer medication for two years, William noticed a suspicious lesion on his left ear, which was later determined to be melanoma, Clarks level II. William subsequently had invasive surgery to remove the Viagra skin cancer that left him with a permanent scar. William will have to constantly monitor his skin for lesions as a result of the alleged Viagra melanoma skin cancer condition. He claims Pfizer did not properly disclose melanoma-related risks in taking the erectile dysfunction drug to consumers or prescribing doctors.

Viagra Melanoma Risks

As is the case with most pharmaceutical products, Viagra comes with a list of common side effects, some more serious than others, from headaches to even the loss of one’s hearing. While most of these have been discovered early on and have lead to bigger FDA warnings, in 2014 researchers discovered that melanoma skin cancer could be another possible adverse effect related to taking Viagra.

The discovery of this Viagra side effect was published in the Journal of The American Medical Association in April of 2014. According to the data, men that use Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction face a much higher risk of developing the dangerous form of skin cancer known as melanoma. The Viagra skin cancer study involved approximately 25,000 men and found that men who took Viagra had an 84 percent higher risk of developing melanoma.

The biological process through which Viagra increases the chances of melanoma skin cancer is not really that intricate. According to research, it was discovered that Viagra (sildenafil citrate) depletes the quantities of PDE5A, a protein that fights against cancer. With less defenses against this possibly lethal affliction, it’s no wonder that the risk of melanoma increases was an alarming 84 percent for men using the little blue pill. The study did not show Viagra to increase the forming of any other type of cancer except melanoma.

Viagra Melanoma Lawsuits

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with melanoma after using Viagra, a Viagra melanoma skin cancer lawsuit can help provide you with an opportunity to seek compensation for damages related to the disease. These damages may include past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost wages and, in cases of death, funeral expenses and loss of projected earnings.

If Pfizer had provided adequate warnings about the potential risk of Viagra melanoma, many men, like William, may have avoided this deadly skin cancer by electing not to take Viagra, or they may have been able to reduce the risk of skin cancer by carefully monitoring for skin cancer symptoms.

The Viagra Melanoma Lawsuit is Case No: 1:15-cv-02660-AJN, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.