If you’ve taken Viagra and were later diagnosed with melanoma, you may want to contact a personal injury lawyer who handles cases involving the adverse effects of prescription drugs.
According to a Harvard Medical School study that was published in April of 2014, men who have taken Viagra are 84% more likely to develop melanoma than men who haven’t taken the drug.
Melanoma is a serious, potentially fatal form of skin cancer. It begins in the cells responsible for skin color and then often spreads. While the cancer can be successfully treated if caught early, melanoma is often not caught until it has spread. For this reason, melanoma is the deadliest of all skin cancers.
Some experts estimate that upwards of almost 10,000 people will die of melanoma this year in the United States. Melanoma constitutes just 2% of skin cancer cases. However a whopping 79% of all skin cancer deaths come from that 2% total.
Of the seven most common forms of cancer in the U.S., melanoma is the only one whose incidence rate is increasing. Between 2000 and 2009, the number of new cases of melanoma reported each year climbed 1.9%.
There are now roughly 76,000 cases of melanoma reported each year.
The majority of men who are diagnosed with melanoma are white men over the age of 50 – the same men who are the most common users of erectile dysfunction drugs, including Viagra.
If you have taken Viagra and were diagnosed with melanoma, you may be entitled to compensation for your illness. If you would like to discuss your options, contact the law offices of Ed Bernstein at 1-888-235-3090.
Viagra and Melanoma FAQs
Q: What are the symptoms of melanoma?
If you are looking for symptoms of melanoma or wondering if you should get a mole checked out, be on the lookout for ABCDE.
A – asymmetry
B – irregular borders
C – colors – does it change colors or have more than one color?
D – does the diameter change?
E – does the mole evolve and act differently?
Q: By how much do my odds of getting melanoma increase if I take Viagra?
According to the 2014 study, your odds increase by a stunning 92%. You are 92% more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma if you take Viagra than if you don’t.
Q: What are the steps I should take if I have been diagnosed with melanoma and have used Viagra in the past (or am still using it)?
There are several steps you need to take aside from stopping the use of Viagra, going to the doctor and getting treatment. You are entitled to compensation, and as with any injury lawsuit you need to start keeping a record of your medication-caused injury.
- Keep a journal and detailed notes. Include any pain and hardships you are experiencing.
- Maintain official records of medical bills and any other expenses.
- Get in contact with an injury lawyer. For a consultation with an experienced lawyer, call 1-888-235-3090 and get in touch with our offices.
Q: Do I have to pay for a consultation?
The primary consultation is free!
Q: Is it just me against Pfizer?
Pfizer is a huge pharmaceutical company, and getting settlement money from them might seem very daunting – almost impossible. But it’s definitely not just you against them. We have experience with lawsuits involving Zantac, Paragard IUD, and Truvada, amongst others. Other victims are fighting for their rightful compensation, and you are not alone.
Q: How much compensation can I expect in a Viagra lawsuit?
While compensation varies on a case by case basis, you can expect to be compensated for:
- Pain and Suffering
- Lost Income
- Medical Expenses
- Anticipated expenses
- Possible Punitive Damages
Q: What if my loved one died of Viagra-caused melanoma?
You can still file a lawsuit. You may be entitled to compensation for the loss of your loved one.
Q: Do I have to go to court?
It depends on your case. Sometimes, plaintiffs do not have to go to court at all.
Q: What do you need from me?
If you’re looking to put together a case, get together all the documents you can. This can include:
- A journal of illness and medical treatment
- Proof of wages lost
- Medical care bills
- Medical treatment records
- Receipts for medication
- Any other documents that we deem necessary after a phone call
Q: What is a black box warning?
A black box warning is a descriptive warning that a pharmaceutical company puts on the medication packaging. It’s called that because it’s in a bold, black box – so it can be seen easily and looks different than the standard packaging.
Black box warnings are required by the FDA if the medication carries a significant health risk. For example, the black box warning on the popular drug Prozac includes the phrase “WARNING: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS” and contains information about who’s most prone to this side effect according to studies, and what to watch for, as well as medications that might react with Prozac.
Problems arise when a pharmaceutical company chooses not to warn people about the adverse effects of medications that have proven knowledge of.