Men who like both sex and sun need no longer worry that the drugs they take to facilitate the former will increase their risk of melanoma while soaking up the rays of the latter.
Concerns about a causal link between PDE5 inhibitors, such as Viagra and Cialis, and melanoma stem from a study published in the June 2014 issue of the “Journal of the American Medical Association.” That study found that recent use of sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, among nearly 26,000 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study was associated with an increased risk of melanoma.
The JAMA study caused quite a stir, prompting a 2016 decision by the Food and Drug Administration to put Viagra and the other PDE5 inhibitors on its watch list of drugs with possible safety issues.
No Causal Link Found
Now, a meta-analysis of data from multiple relevant studies has convinced a team of researchers led by Stacy Loeb, M.D., that there is no real causal link between PDE5 inhibitor use and melanoma. The results of that literature review and data analysis were published in the August 2017 issue of the “Journal of the National Cancer Institute.”
The research team led by Loeb, an assistant professor of urology at NYU Langone, suggests that the apparent link between sildenafil use and melanoma risk arose from “detection bias.” Researchers concluded that men who take PDE5 inhibitors are generally more health-conscious and thus more likely to consult a doctor on a regular basis.
Because they consult a doctor regularly, they are also more likely than their peers to be diagnosed with skin cancer of any kind.
This increased likelihood of diagnosis, however, cannot be interpreted as an increased risk of developing the skin cancer.
However, the more recent findings should not be used as an excuse to be less mindful of the dangers of sun exposure.
In a press release, Loeb said, “Physicians should still screen for melanoma risk, but they do not need to add the use of Viagra and similar drugs to the list of screening criteria specifically.”
Want to stay abreast of the latest news from the consumer health front? Follow our blog.
We specialize in providing our over 1,000,000 customers with relevant product and condition information created by our professional editorial staff which includes our team of medical writers, medical practitioners, and health educators. eDrugStore.com Staff on Facebook