The little blue pill, as Viagra became known, has helped millions of men with their problems in the bedroom. While there have been ups and downs for the drug, including lawsuits surrounding heart problems associated with taking the drug as well as the fact that some people can suddenly go blind after using the pill, it remains incredibly popular today. The reason is that the pill works. However, another study shows there is yet another problem with Viagra; another serious side effect that was never fully disclosed by Pfizer.

Viagra Studies on Melanoma

In April, 2014 the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that showed there is a significant link between using Viagra, and subsequently developing melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.

This study followed almost 26,000 Viagra users from the year 2000 until the year 2010. The goal of the study was to determine if there was indeed a link between the little blue pill and the development of skin cancer. Those with pre-existing cancer conditions were excluded from this particular research, and the rest were analyzed for development of skin cancer. Out of the three forms of skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma) the only one that Viagra users were at an increased risk of developing was melanoma. In fact, those who used Viagra were 84% more likely to develop this skin cancer than those who did not use the pill.

What is Melanoma?

Melanoma is most often associated with sunburns. Too much exposure to the sun can cause the skin cells to mutate and eventually form into melanoma. While that is a major cause, the underlying factors, such as genetic predisposition and Viagra use, increase the risk even further.

With the other two forms of skin cancer, there is less risk of serious problems. In fact, if they are caught early on, the chance of survival (surviving cancer means you live 5 or more years from the date of diagnosis) is extremely high (over 99%). Melanoma is a bit more serious. While it can still be caught early on, the chance of survival is a lot lower.

Contact a Dangerous Drug Attorney

If you have used Viagra, and you have been diagnosed with melanoma, there is no reason that you should have to suffer at the hands of Pfizer. Cancer treatment can get expensive, and it can be taxing on your lifestyle and relationships. Contact a dangerous drug attorney today to see how you can file a Viagra lawsuit and possibly collect compensation to cover medical expenses and other damages.