Recent findings indicate that the development of melanoma, an aggressive and deadly skin cancer, may be among the harmful effects of Viagra.

About Viagra and How it Works

Viagra (generic: sildenafil) is essentially a vasodilator, meaning it opens up blood vessels. Specifically, it increases the amount of a particular enzyme (cGMP), which causes the relaxation of smooth muscle tissue found on the walls of blood vessels and arteries, increasing blood flow into the spongiform tissues of the penis.

Originally, chemists at Pzifer were studying the compound for use in treating hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina pectoris (chest pain indicative of ischemic heart disease resulting from narrowing of the arteries). During clinical trials, sildenafil was found to have little to no effect on angina. However, researchers noted that men who took it wound up getting pronounced erections. 

Based on this accidental finding, Pfizer made the decision to reposition the drug and market it for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Patented in 1996, Viagra received FDA approval in March of 1998 and was the first orally-administered treatment for ED to be made available in the United States.

The new medication was a tremendous success for Pfizer, as well as the subject of many off-color jokes; in 2008, at its height of popularity, Viagra accounted for nearly $2 billion a year in revenues for the drugmaker. 

Common side effects of Viagra include headaches, flushing, indigestion, and nasal congestion. Some patients have complained of vision impairment as well, although this is rare.

According to AccessRx, roughly 18 million men or more have passing or consistent problems getting or maintaining an erection, also known as erectile dysfunction (ED). Only about 33 percent of global ED sufferers seek medication treatment for the disease; however, they may face severe side effects.

According to the report, Harvard School of Public Health researchers reviewed the experiences of 26,000 men for the decade between the years 2000 and 2010. Over this timeline, the harmful effects of Viagra were highlighted with data revealing 3,500 new cases of skin cancer development among those being treated for ED with the drug. Nearly 150 of those patients developed the deadliest version of skin cancer—melanoma.

Nevertheless, from this study, later published in the Journal of American Medicine in the Spring of 2014, researchers were able to determine that among the harmful effects of Viagra was an 84 percent increased risk of developing the dangerous skin cancer as compared to men not taking the drug.

A 2017 study expanded on the potential link between Viagra and melanoma, aiming to determine why men taking the erectile dysfunction drug may have an increased risk of skin cancer.

The researchers leading the study theorized that, while Viagra may not cause cellular mutation, the drug “releases the brakes” on existing melanoma cells. They proposed that by increasing the chance that melanoma will metastasize, Viagra allegedly encourages the cancer to spread rapidly. In medical terms, Viagra travels the same biological, or “signaling” pathways as melanoma cells, literally clearing the path for malignancy.

“Clearly, the available preclinical and clinical data call for more well-controlled prospective clinical studies to confirm a causal relationship between PDE5 inhibitors and melanoma risk,” the researchers concluded in a study published in Molecular & Cellular Oncology.

Other Statistics of ED and the Future of Treatment

While it is often assumed that ED is a disease that strictly affects older men, other statistics mentioned in a Huffington Post article indicate otherwise. In this article, reference is made to a study of nearly 500 men that were seeking help for ED at an outpatient clinic. Of these, about 110 were under the age of 40 with close to 50 percent of those having severe sexual dysfunction.

The discovery that started with this study and was later confirmed in others was that one-in-four men seeking treatment for ED are under 40. The surprising aspect of this data likely reveals a cultural bias that wants to believe that if a younger man has difficulty in this area, it is likely due to psychological issues rather than cardiovascular ones. This study reveals that, in fact, younger men may need to be tested for vascular issues more frequently than ever before.

Treating underlying cardiovascular problems may be safer than prescribing common medications like Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, which biochemically act similar in the body. Yet, despite findings regarding the harmful effects of Viagra, AccessRx till projects the ED drug market to grow exponentially to a $3.4 billion industry by next year.

Risk Factors for Melanoma Skin Cancer

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. When the DNA in skin cells is damaged beyond repair, mutations are triggered which results in cancer cells. Melanoma forms rapidly growing malignant tumors that start in the melanocytes, the melanin-producing cells found in the base layers of the skin.

The warning signs of melanoma are referred to as the “ABCDEs” of melanoma. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends applying these warning signs to any existing moles, brown spots, or growths on the skin to make sure they are not harmful. The ABCDEs of melanoma are:

• Asymmetry: malignant moles are usually asymmetrical, meaning that two halves of the mole do not match.
• Border: whereas a benign mole has clear, smooth borders, a melanoma has more uneven borders which may be scalloped or notched in appearance.
• Color: if a mole is multiple colors (tan, brown, black, red, white, blue) opposed to a single shade of brown, it may be a sign of malignancy.
• Diameter: malignant moles may grow to be larger than 1/4 inch in diameter.
• Evolving: one of the most important warning signs is any changes in size, shape, color, or elevation that occur to moles or marks. The development of bleeding, itching, or crusting can also suggest malignancy.

While the risk of development of melanoma is among some of the harmful effects of Viagra and similar medications, there are additional factors to consider as well, including;

• Does the person with melanoma have a family history of this type of skin cancer?
• How much unprotected time have they spent in the sun? Are they prone to moles?

These questions might need to be answered prior to drawing a conclusion about disease origin.

While correlation doesn’t always equal causation, the data regarding melanoma and ED drugs is significant. If you or a loved one have taken Viagra and later been diagnosed with melanoma or other type of skin cancer, you may have a legal case. Fill out our form for a free, initial consultation.