Diagnosed with Melanaoma after taking Viagra?
Get HelpViagra and Melanoma JAMA Study
The connection between Viagra and melanoma is still a fairly new area of research. In April of 2014, Li et al of Harvard Medical school published the first human study showing a connection between Viagra use and the development of melanoma. Based on surveys completed by over 25000 men participating in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, it was found that in men using Viagra the risk of melanoma was approximately two times greater than in those who hadn’t used it. This study doesn’t prove for certain that Viagra use causes melanoma, but it certainly demonstrates a need for further understanding on the subject and additional research will be required to determine if Viagra use is safe or not.
What is Melanoma
Melanoma (aka “malignant melanoma”) is a type of cancer that originates in a skin cell called a melanocyte. Melanocytes are responsible for creating melanin, the substance that gives our skin its particular color. When you develop a suntan, it is a result of your melanocytes being stimulated by UV radiation and producing a greater amount of melanin than normal.
Signs and Symptoms
Melanoma can generally be identified early in its development. Most individuals will have some normal moles that are either present at birth or develop before adulthood. These moles are usually a shade of brown or black and will be smaller than the size of a pencil eraser. However, if you notice an abnormal change in your skin, such as the development of a new mole or a change in the size or coloring of an existing mole, this may be an indication of the presence of melanoma. In addition to changes in skin appearance, symptoms of melanoma may include itchiness or pain, and/or the development of oozing or bleeding. Conducting regular self-examinations of your skin and visiting your dermatologist when you discover abnormalities is the easiest way to catch melanoma before it moves to an advanced stage.
Melanoma Skin Cancer Can Be Deadly
While melanoma is more rare than other skin cancers, it is also generally more dangerous. In the United States this year, it is estimated that approximately 74000 new melanomas will be diagnosed, and there will be 10000 deaths from melanoma. Caucasians are by far the most likely to be diagnosed with melanoma at some point in their lifetime, with a 5x greater risk than Hispanics and more than 20x greater risk than African Americans.
5-year survival rates vary greatly depending on the stage at which melanoma is diagnosed. If found early (Stage I), the 5-year survival rate is between 86 and 95%. If diagnosed at the metastatic stage (Stage 4) after the cancer has spread to distance parts of the body, the 5-year survival rate is only 10-15%.
Stages of Melanoma Skin Cancer
Melanoma is staged based on the size of the tumor and the extent to which the cancer has spread. Melanoma may be diagnosed at one of five stages, some of which have subcategories as well based on the presence of ulceration, enlargement of lymph nodes, and size of the melanoma. The general stages are as follows:
Stage 0: The tumor is in the epidermis and has not spread elsewhere.
Stage I: The tumor is less than 2 mm thick, is developing slowly and hasn’t spread to other organs.
Stage II: The tumor is from 1-4+ mm thick, may be ulcerated, and hasn’t spread to other organs.
Stage III: The cancer has spread to nearby skin or lymph nodes, lymph nodes may be enlarged, and the developing tumor may be ulcerated.
Stage IV: The cancer has spread to distant organs or lymph nodes. At this stage the cancer may be referred to as a metastatic melanoma.
Melanoma Treatment
If discovered early on, melanoma can usually be treated with surgery alone to remove the developing tumor. Once it has begun spreading, other interventions may be required in addition to surgery, and may include one or more of the following:
Chemotherapy
Drugs are administered either orally or by IV, and target fast growing cells throughout the body. In melanoma cases, chemotherapy is not as effective on its own as it is with other cancers, so these drugs are often administered in combination with a targeted therapy or immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy
Involves one or more of a variety of drugs that help to boost the immune system response against cancerous cells.
Targeted Therapy
Uses drugs that target altered proteins within a cancerous cell or cells with specific gene changes and impair their function.
Radiation
High energy rays are focused on the tumor site, or more often in the area where a tumor was surgically removed to kill any remaining cancer cells.
Viagra Lawsuits Against Pfizer
In April of 2015, Tina Stockton filed a lawsuit against Pfizer due to the death of her husband David in 2008. David used Viagra for 7 years and passed away as a result of a pulmonary embolism that developed as a consequence of a metastatic mucosal melanoma. Stockton is suing Pfizer on the basis of negligence, fraud, and violation of consumer protection, claiming that they did not provide sufficient information regarding the risks of Viagra use to consumers. This case is currently ongoing, and many other claims are underway.
If you or a loved one used Viagra and have been diagnosed with melanoma, please contact us to determine if you have a viable claim and may be entitled to compensation.