An Arizona Viagra melanoma cancer lawyer may be able to assist men who have developed melanoma after taking the medication. Medications such as Viagra are used to treat erectile function and help impotent men resume normal sexual activity. While drugs like Viagra have been popular since becoming available for consumer use, there have been allegations that the drug may be related to the increased risk of developing melanoma. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file an Arizona Viagra melanoma cancer lawsuit and recover compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact the Attorney Group for Arizona. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a case we can connect you with an affiliated Arizona Viagra melanoma cancer lawyer who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Viagra?
Since its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998, Viagra has been one of the most well-known drugs on the market. The drug’s active ingredient, sildenafil citrate, is used to treat symptoms associated with impotence and erectile dysfunction (ED) and works by blocking an enzyme that controls the flow of blood to tissues in the penis. The drug was originally developed to treat high blood pressure, however, it was found to have an impact on treating ED during clinical trials.
Viagra and Melanoma
An Arizona Viagra melanoma cancer lawyer notes that studies have found an increased risk in skin cancers among Viagra users. The JAMA Internal Medicine journal reports on a study involving 25,848 men who had treated erectile dysfunction with sildenafil and did not have cancer. The study used patients with ED who had given information concerning their medical background in 1986 and had been questioned in the years following about things such as the number of sunburns they had developed, their hair color, the number of large moles on certain areas of their bodies and their likelihood to develop a sunburn.
Between the years 2000 and 2010, researchers found that over 3,000 of the patients who had reported Viagra use had developed basal cell carcinoma, 142 reported having melanoma and close to 600 had been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. Other factors that were noted included the following:
- Family history of the disease in close relatives
- Body mass index
- Smoking habits
- Peak sun exposure at various stages of life
- Activity level
After carefully examining the results compared with all possible risk factors, researchers found that, compared with non-sildenafil users, there was a higher rate of the development of melanoma than their those who did not take the medication.
NBC News reported that the JAMA Internal Medicine study found the rates of melanoma to be 84 percent higher in sildenafil users, prompting the recommendation that those who had used the drug and had other risk factors for developing the disease should meet with their doctor.
Other Viagra Melanoma Studies
As more information regarding this connection comes forward, Viagra patients are beginning to seek legal help to recover illness-related damages. According to Cell.com, scientists in a 2016 study found that the molecular pathways that sildenafil affects to allow erection in patients with ED has been linked to the development and spread of melanoma. Genes in this area lead to cancer when they become mutated, leading researchers to believe that the introduction of sildenafil in this pathway may alter the genetic structure. The study evaluated the effect that the drug had on cell lines in mice as well as humans, and discovered that proteins were affected in both rodent and human groups, and an increased growth of melanoma cancer cells was evident.
How an Arizona Viagra Melanoma Cancer Lawyer Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by bad drugs may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
For more information, contact the Attorney Group for Arizona. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
