Greg Vigna, MD, JD is reviewing potential claims from men who took Viagra, Cialis or Levitra and subsequently developed melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Melanoma is less common than other forms of skin cancer such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, but causes a majority of skin cancer deaths. If caught early, before it invades certain layers of the skin, resection provides a cure. For recurrent melanomas or metastatic melanoma, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy may be indicated.
Viagra and Melanoma: The Link
Over the past 5 years there have been several studies regarding a potential link between the prescription drug Viagra and melanoma. Viagra is a drug that produces erections by increasing blood flow to the penis. Viagra (sildenafil) is in a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors that also includes Levitra (vardenafil), and Cialis (tadalafil). PDE5 inhibitors have been found to promote melanoma cell invasion in BRAF-mutated melanoma cell lines and may potentially cause melanoma to develop.
These early studies led to a recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association that evaluated the possible link between Viagra and Melanoma. This study, published in April 2014, involved 25,848 participants who reported taking Viagra between 2000 to 2010. There was nearly twice the risk of developing melanoma in men who took Viagra, and this risk was not observed for developing basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. This study provided epidemiological evidence of the significant adverse effect of Viagra and the other PDE5A inhibitors.
Researchers believe that PDE5A inhibitors may increase melanoma invasiveness, which will increase the likelihood of death from melanoma.
Contact Greg Vigna, MD, JD– Board Certified Medical Doctor and bad drugs lawyer. If you have been diagnosed with melanoma after taking Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra contact the Greg Vigna, MD, JD. law firm for a free case evaluation of prescription drug injury.
photo courtesy of:
Carl Washington, M.D., Emory Univ. School of Medicine; Mona Saraiya, MD, MPH
