A Kentucky Viagra Melanoma Cancer lawsuit may be an option for men who were diagnosed with skin cancer after taking the drug. Viagra, also known as sildenafil citrate, is used to treat erectile dysfunction and impotence. Despite the drug’s popularity, Viagra has been linked to serious risks and injuries, including a potentially fatal form of skin cancer known as melanoma. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file a lawsuit and seek compensation for their injuries with the help of a Kentucky Viagra melanoma cancer lawyer.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kentucky today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Viagra melanoma cancer lawyer who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Viagra?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to develop and keep an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse or activity. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the Massachusetts Male Aging Study reported a prevalence of the condition in 52 percent of men. Likewise, the study showed that ED increases with age.
First-line treatment options for men who suffer from ED often includes the use of drugs such as Viagra. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998, Viagra is used to treat men who suffer from ED and, in some cases, pulmonary hypertension.
Viagra and Melanoma
According to the American Cancer Society, about 10,000 people in the United States are expected to die from melanoma in 2016, and about 6,750 of them will be men. Although melanoma is responsible for about 1% of skin cancers, it causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths.
A study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine found that out of almost 26,000 male participants, individuals who used Viagra were 84 percent more likely to receive a melanoma cancer diagnosis than men who did not use the drug. Although the study found that Viagra does not necessarily lead to other types of skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, there was a possible link between Viagra and melanoma skin cancer.
Researchers were not able to establish how Viagra increases a man’s risk of developing melanoma, however, they stated that the medication could possibly affect the same genetic pathways that allow skin cancer to progress into a more invasive form before becoming an active form of cancer.
Viagra Side Effects
Possible side effects of Viagra include:
- Headache
- Nosebleeds
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Upset stomach
- Warmth or redness in the face, arms, or upper chest
- Nausea
Other Viagra Risks
Serious risks and side effects of Viagra include:
- Serious allergic reactions, including itching or hives, swelling in the face or hands, swelling or tingling in the mouth or throat, chest tightness, or trouble breathing
- Chest pain, difficulty breathing, or sudden or severe headache
- Fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
- Lightheadedness or fainting
- Painful erection or erection that lasts longer than four hours
- Sudden decrease or loss of vision
- Sudden decrease in hearing or hearing loss, ringing in the ears, or dizziness
Viagra Melanoma Cancer Lawsuits
Pfizer, Inc., the manufacturer of Viagra, currently faces several lawsuits regarding the drug and its alleged link to melanoma. A Viagra melanoma cancer lawsuit filed in April 2016 claims that the drug manufacturer knew of the increased risks of developing melanoma associated with the use of Viagra, but did not adequately and sufficiently warn consumers, the plaintiff, or the medical community.
Despite knowledge of several studies linking Viagra to melanoma, Pfizer knowingly withheld and/or misrepresented information concerning those serious health risks and continued to engage in aggressive marketing techniques to promote and sell the medication. Regardless of these allegations, Viagra continues to be one of the most widely prescribed drugs used to treat ED.
How a Kentucky Viagra Melanoma Cancer Lawsuit 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.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kentucky. 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.
