Sometimes the prescription drugs we depend on to treat us have harmful side effects on patients. Take for instance a recent study linking the use of sildenafil—marketed as Viagra® by Pfizer, Inc.—to an increased chance of developing melanoma.
Researchers pinpointed the risk by examining the medical records of more than 25,000 men who used the drug. They were able to determine 3,700 users had developed one of three types of skin cancer after using Viagra. Researchers concluded that Viagra users were at an 84 percent greater risk of developing melanoma than men who had never used the drug.
The Journal of the American Medical Association also explained the reason for the increased risk could be due to the fact that the drug impacts the same genes that allow cancer to grow rapidly.
These findings mean as many as 25 million men in the United States alone may face an increased risk of developing melanoma, even after taking only one dose of the drug. Patients concerned about these risks should speak with their doctors.
The Nashville personal injury lawyers at Ponce Law encourage anyone diagnosed with skin cancer after using Viagra to speak with our legal staff about their potential rights to compensation. We can be reached anytime at 615-244-4321.
