Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers.  Most people associate skin cancer with too much exposure to the sun’s harmful rays without proper UV protection, tanning beds, or unusual moles on the skin.

However, many people are unaware that a certain popular medication, Viagra, may also be linked to the development of melanoma cancer.

Viagra has been linked to nearly a doubling of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, in men who used the erectile dysfunction medication, according to a recent study.

About Viagra

Viagra was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 1998 and is a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. The drug is manufactured by Pfizer, Inc., one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. The FDA issued several label changes for Viagra due to information about serious side effects beginning in 2005.

From 2005 to 2007, there were numerous reports of users experiencing sudden vision or hearing loss.  Recently, however, Viagra has been reported to increase the risk of developing melanoma cancer.

Viagra and Skin Cancer

In April 2014, a Journal of the American Medicine (JAMA) study found that men who use Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction were at a noticeable increased risk of developing melanoma. In this 10-year study, conducted between 2000 – 2010, researchers reviewed data from roughly 25,000 participants in a follow-up study performed by the Health Professionals.

This data showed that, when compared to men not using Viagra, men who had used the erectile dysfunction drug in the past were twice as likely to develop melanoma. With this, men currently taking Viagra were at an 84 percent increased risk.

Researchers believe that Viagra may increase the risks of melanoma because the components of the drug allows skin cancer to be more invasive in the body.

The authors of this study stated that this link does not prove Viagra causes melanoma and there should be more research conducted regarding the association. However, they also stated that Viagra could cause an increase in melanoma cells, which increases the melanoma skin cancer risk.

Symptoms of Melanoma Cancer

A popular misconception is that melanoma will always appear as a mole, which is not true. The first signs and symptoms of skin cancer that a person should look for are a change in a mole that is already present, or the development of a new pigmented (colored) or unusual-looking growth on the skin.

According to the Mayo Clinic, melanoma has the ability to develop anywhere on the body. They will most often appear in areas that have had some exposure to the sun, including the back, legs, arms and even face. They can also occur in locations that don’t see as much exposure to the sun, like the soles of the feet, palms of the hands, and even fingernail beds.

Melanomas can also occur on otherwise normal-appearing skin. These are the hidden melanomas and are usually more common in people with darker skin.

Viagra Melanoma Cancer Lawsuits

Research indicates that Pfizer knew about the potential link between Viagra and melanoma as far back as 2011 when a study was published indicating that Viagra may be the vehicle for melanoma cell invasion

If you or a loved one has developed melanoma skin cancer as a result of taking Viagra, an experienced drug injury attorney can review your case and discuss your legal options with you, helping determine if you have the right to file a Viagra lawsuit against Pfizer.