Eli Lilly Slapped With 7 Lawsuits Alleging Skin Cancer from Cialis
August 10, 2016 – Seven men who claim they developed melanoma after taking Cialis to treat erectile dysfunction filed separate but similar lawsuits against Eli Lilly & Co. in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis last week, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal. The complaints allege that Lilly
failed to adequately warn about a “significant risk of exacerbating melanoma” on the labeling of Cialis.
Studies Link ED Drugs to Increased Risk for Melanoma
The lawsuits highlight several studies which the plaintiffs claim found an association between the mechanism of action in ED medications like Cialis and Viagra to skin cancer, including one published in JAMA Internal Medicine which identified an 84% increased risk of the disease with sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. The findings were based on a study of over 25,000 men conducted over nearly a decade by researchers from top medical schools including Harvard, Brown and other leading universities and hospitals.
Melanoma Staging
The stage of a melanoma refers to how far the disease has grown into the skin, and whether it has traveled to other areas in the body. It is important to know how deeply the cancer has grown into the skin so physicians can decide on the treatment required, the risk of the disease recurring after treatment, and whether the patient needs additional testing to see if the melanoma has migrated to nearby lymph nodes.
The following numbered system is used to describe the stages of melanoma skin cancer:
- Stage 0 (In Situ Melanoma) – Cancerous cells only found in the top layer of skin cells, and have not yet spread any deeper.
- Stage 1A – Melanoma is ulcerated and 1 to 2 mm thick, or between 2 and 4mm and not ulcerated. The disease has hot spread past the skin.
- Stage 2B – Melanoma is ulcerated and 2 to 4mm thick, or thicker than 4mm and not ulcerated.
- Stage 2C – Ulcerated melanoma thicker than 4mm.
- Stage 3A – Cancer has migrated to lymph nodes around the tumor. However, the nodes are not enlarged and the cells are only visible under a microscope. The melanoma is not ulcerated and has not traveled to other parts of the body.
- Stage 3B – Melanoma is ulcerated and has spread to lymph nodes, but the nodes are not enlarged and the cells can only be seen under a microscope; or, the melanoma is not ulcerated and it has traveled to between 1 and 3 lymph nodes and the nodes are enlarged; or, the melanoma is not ulcerated, but it has migrated to small areas of skin or lymphatic channels.
- Stage 3C – Cancerous cells in the lymph nodes and/or in the lymph channels close to the main melanoma. The melanoma may or may not be ulcerated, and has migrated to lymph nodes that have joined together.
- Stage 4 – Cancer has traveled to other areas of the body, away from the primary site and nearby lymph nodes. Melanoma typically spreads to the lung, liver or brain, or to distant lymph nodes or areas of the skin.
Cialis Side Effects
In addition to being potentially linked to an increased risk for melanoma skin cancer, Cialis may cause one or more of the following serious side effects in some users:
- Changes in vision / sudden vision loss
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) / sudden hearing loss
- Chest pain or heavy feeling
- Pain spreading to the arm or shoulder
- Nausea
- Sweating
- General ill feeling (malaise)
- Irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in the hands or feet
- Seizure (convulsions)
- Feeling light-headed
- Fainting
- Penis erection that lasts 4 hours or longer (priapism)
Do I Have a Cialis Skin Cancer Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Cialis lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new skin cancer cases in all 50 states.
Free Confidential Case Evaluation: Again, if you were diagnosed with melanoma after taking Cialis, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a lawsuit and we can help.