Melanoma skin cancer is easily the most aggressive and dangerous of skin cancer types, and while uncommon, is unfortunately by far the most common cause of skin cancer death.

Knowing the symptoms of skin cancer can help catch the disease when it is at its most treatable.

What is Melanoma Skin Cancer?

There are three major types of skin cancer: basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma. Basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer are more common than melanoma, but melanoma cancer is the most dangerous.

Only two percent of skin cancer diagnoses are melanoma, but melanoma cancer is so aggressive that it is still the leading cause of skin cancer death.

Melanoma cancer spreads through the rapid reproduction of cells, forming malignant tumors. The disease is often associated with sun exposure, but there are other causes as well.

Skin cancer has been linked with several contributing factors, such as a family history of skin cancer, exposure to UV light and erectile dysfunction medications like Viagra.

Symptoms of Melanoma Skin Cancer

Melanomas appear on the skin and generally look a great deal like moles. In some cases, melanoma actually develops from moles. Though melanoma moles are usually black or brown in color, they can also be pink, red, purple, blue or white.

Symptoms of melanoma cancer may include:

• A large brown spot with dark speckles
• A mole that bleeds or changes in color, size, or feel
• A small lesion with discolored portions
• Dark lesions on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet or the mucous membranes lining the mouth, nose, vagina, or anus

Melanoma may cause new spots or moles to develop, or an existing mole may turn cancerous.

People of any skin tone can develop melanoma cancer. People with darker skin tend to develop melanoma on the palms or soles, or even under their nails.

While it is most common for melanoma skin cancer to appear primarily on skin that has been exposed to the sun, such as the legs, face, and arms, it can also develop on areas of the skin that have never been in the sun, such as beneath the nails or in the genital area.

Men commonly experience melanoma on the face, while women typically develop melanoma on their lower legs.

Any changes to your skin that cause worry should be followed with a doctor’s appointment, though these are not all indications of skin cancer.

It is, however, best to be cautious – even more so if taking medications like Viagra.

Skin Cancer: Viagra Side Effect?

Viagra (generic name sildenafil) is one of a number of erectile dysfunction drugs linked with skin cancer risk. These drugs are known as phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and work to increase the blood flow to the penis, stimulating an erection.

Viagra was approved by the FDA in 1998 to treat erectile dysfunction, and was later approved to treat hypertension. But like all medications, Viagra does have side effects.

According to a study in JAMA International Medicine, users of Viagra are 84 percent more likely to develop melanoma skin cancer than people who did not take Viagra.

Viagra may not be a singular cause of skin cancer. In some cases, patients who experience multiple contributing factors (such as a family history of skin cancer as well as Viagra usage) may be more likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer and believe it was attributed to a Viagra side effect you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. It is best to speak with a specialized lawyer to see what options are available to you.