A Virginia Viagra melanoma cancer lawyer can help men who were diagnosed with skin cancer after taking the drug. Lawsuits allege a link between the widely prescribed erectile dysfunction medication and the development of melanoma, which is an invasive and often fatal form of skin cancer. Affected men and their families are seeking compensation for injuries and death with the help of Virginia Viagra attorneys.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Virginia. 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 Virginia Viagra melanoma cancer lawyer who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Viagra?
Sildenafil, or Viagra (brand) as it is also known, is a drug used to treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. The Mayo Clinic defines erectile dysfunction as a medical condition that results in a male’s inability to remain sexually aroused. Viagra treats this condition by preventing certain enzymes in the male sexual organ from being released too quickly.
Viagra is also used to treat hypertension in the heart and lungs, by treating a condition known as pulmonary arterial hypertension. If hypertension occurs in the lungs, the heart is forced to pump enough blood for both organs. Since Viagra relieves the symptoms of lung hypertension, this added stress is taken off the heart. The drug is prescribed to both men and women for this purpose.
How Does Viagra Work?
According to Medline Plus, Viagra belongs to a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase inhibitors that are instrumental in increasing blood flow to various parts of the body. This ability to increase the circulation of blood also contributes to Viagra’s ability to treat hypertension in the lungs. When the lungs have difficulty receiving blood, the heart will be forced to work harder. This extra work taxes the heart and contributes to hypertension. Viagra allows blood to flow to the lungs with greater ease by relaxing blood vessels and easing the pressure on the heart. By increasing the flow of blood to the male sexual organs, Viagra is able to adequately treat erectile dysfunction.
Common Side Effects
Like any drug, Viagra does have commonly observed side effects. Some of these side effects include:
- Aches in the muscles
- Vision loss
- Numbness in various extremities
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Long-lasting erections
Viagra and Melanoma
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, in a 2000 Health Professionals’ Follow-up study, 25,848 men who had been prescribed Viagra were questioned about their use of the drug. Over the next few years, the men were questioned again about various aspects of their health, including the development of any health conditions since the initial 2000 date. This follow-up study produced the following data in regards to skin cancer:
- 3030 cases of basal cell cancer
- 142 cases of melanoma
- 580 cases of squamous cell cancer
The study, which was conducted by the dermatology departments of several prominent medical schools and teaching hospitals, concluded that there was an increased risk of skin cancer development in Viagra users.
Capable of affecting the skin and inner organs, the Mayo Clinic states that melanoma derives its name from the fact that it damages the body’s melanin-producing cells. These cells, or melanocytes as they are also known, are responsible for supplying your skin with color. Melanoma is the severest form of skin cancer.
Viagra Melanoma Cancer Lawsuits Filed
The manufacturer of Viagra, Pfizer, currently faces several lawsuits related to Viagra and its alleged link to melanoma. In a 2015 lawsuit, a man who had been prescribed Viagra for a period of four years claimed that the drug caused him to develop melanoma. It was also alleged that Pfizer had been aware of studies linking Viagra and melanoma for many years, and that the company still failed to issue proper warnings. Despite these pending lawsuits and studies, Viagra continues to be one of the most widely prescribed erectile dysfunction drugs.
How a Virginia 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.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Virginia. 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.
