New drug research seems to confirm a link between patient use of erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra and the later diagnosis of melanoma skin cancer. However, the researchers of this Viagra melanoma study question whether Viagra and other drugs in its pharmaceutical class are the root cause of increased melanoma skin cancer risk.

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer one can contract. Previous drug studies have identified a potential risk of Viagra melanoma, which has recently lead to the filing of Viagra lawsuits against the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer Inc.

New Viagra Melanoma Research

Last month in June, the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) published an article in which researchers state that their study indicates a 32 percent increased risk of melanoma skin cancer among white male patients who use phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5 ) inhibitors drugs like Viagra.

Despite these Viagra melanoma results, researchers state that discrepancies were found in the studies numbers, meaning that PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra may not be the cause of some patients’ melanoma skin cancer diagnosis.  Researchers theorize that the increased melanoma risk associated with Viagra is actually a result of patient’s lifestyle choices.

This melanoma skin cancer study examined 2006-2012 Swedish medical records and identified 4,000 cases of males developing melanoma skin cancer. Of these 4,000 cases, 11 percent of the patients filed a prescription for at least one type of PDE5 inhibitor drug like Viagra.

The Viagra melanoma study suggests that men who fill just one prescription for a PDE5 inhibitor faced a 32 percent increased risk of melanoma when compared to counterparts who did not use this class of drugs. However, researchers were puzzled to see that that risk of melanoma seemed to decrease for those who filled multiple drug prescriptions, the numbers reflecting only a 14 percent increased risk of melanoma skin cancer.

After reviewing the findings, Dr. Stacy Loeb, the lead researcher for this Viagra melanoma study, concluded:

“What our study results show is that groups of men who are more likely to get malignant melanoma include those with higher disposable incomes and education — men who likely can also afford more vacations in the sun — and who also have the means to buy erectile dysfunction medications, which are very expensive.”

Despite these conflicting Viagra melanoma results, many men are still choosing to file Viagra lawsuits against Pfizer.

Viagra Melanoma History

Viagra was first introduced to the American drug market in 1998 and immediately gained popularity as an effective erectile dysfunction drug. It is still considered one of the most widely known prescription drugs in the United States.

Back in 2014, consumers and doctors became concerned with the alleged link between Viagra and melanoma after Harvard Medical School researchers published a study stating that men who took sildenafil (Viagra) had an 84 percent increased risk of being diagnosed with melanoma.

Other Viagra melanoma studies soon followed, as did the filing of several Viagra skin cancer lawsuits.