Anal Cancer: Prevention & Treatment
- Actress Marcia Cross beat HPV-linked anal cancer 6 years ago, and now, we’re admiring how she’s thriving in remission and modeling in a gorgeous red gown.
- Cross was diagnosed with anal cancer in November 2017 following a routine check-up at the gynecologist. During a digital rectal exam, her doctor felt something unusual, so Cross was directed to a clinic to get it checked out. After two biopsies and one colonoscopy, it was revealed she had anal cancer. She was declared in remission in 2018.
- The actress talked about her HPV-related anal cancer in a previously recorded video with SurvivorNet: “I didn’t have any symptoms. Never had an irregular pap smear. I had never heard of HPV until my husband. We both probably carried it for most of our lives.”
- HPV can lead to anal cancer, throat cancer, and it is almost always the cause of cervical cancers. While the HPV vaccine is traditionally administered to adolescent girls, teenagers, and young women, older adults who don’t have HPV can still very much benefit from receiving it as well.
- “We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, previously told SurvivorNet.
It's been six years since 62-year-old actress Marcia Cross beat HPV-linked anal cancer, and we're admiring how she's thriving in remission and recently modeled in a sparkly red gown for Swiss luxury fashion house Vetements after battling the disease. Cross, known for her role as housewife Bree Van de Kamp on the popular TV series "Desperate Housewives," took to Instagram to celebrate her spectacular modeling gig for Vetements, a "design collective" founded by fashion designers Demna Gvasalia and Guram Gvasalia. She
captioned the post, featuring a collection of video clips from the lavish runway event, "Love and thank you to the brilliant @gvasalia!! It was an honor to be part of the @vetements_official fashion show and a part of such a brilliant artists' vision. In awe forever... #parisfashionweek #"
RELATED: HPV & Cancer Risk: The Basics Cross walked, and absolutely stunned, during the fall/winter 2024 runway show several weeks ago. Fans praised her in the comments, "What a strong and beautiful lady who uses her voice and power for the good of humanity," and ",Beautiful woman Beautiful soul our voice for a better world and humanity." Another fan wrote, "God, Marcia. every day you become more beautiful, how is that possible?? You are my inspiration, if you only knew how much I love and admire you." https://www.tiktok.com/@dazed/video/7341475618829110560?lang=en "First she shows us women in their 40s can kill it on TV, now she shows us women in their 60s can kill it on the runway, such an inspiration," commented a fourth. The mom to 17-year-old twins Eden and Savannah, also recently returned to perform on stage last year, in the off Broadway production known as "Pay The Writer," about being an artist and how it affects relationships.
In July 2023, Pay The Writer's official Instagram page revealed Cross would be acting as Lana Holt, and captioned the post, "Pay The Writer is a new
comedy-drama from New York Times Best Selling Author Tawni O’Dell beginning performances Off-Broadway on August 13th for 7 weeks only! "Starring star Ron Canada, Bryan Batt, and Marcia Cross and directed by Karen Carpenter, #PayTheWriter focuses on the complicated relationship between a legendary literary agent and his best friend-turned-most-successful client. This dynamic and socially intuitive play explores how an artist’s life is controlled by their calling and talent. Get your tickets today at PayTheWriterPlay.com (link in bio)."
Speaking to Forbes about joining the comedy-drama and returning to her passion, Cross said, "Theater is what I went to school for and was my original love. I went after it fiercely when I was younger, wound up in television and then got married and had babies. ... I love the material and my husband, [Tom Mahoney], said, ‘This is what you should be doing.'" She continued, "The play is all about love. That is why I think I was drawn to it. Yes, it's about a man's reckoning of his relationships in his life, but it also has a universal theme. This is a man facing death and he has chance to right some relationships or at least, have some closure with them."
Marcia Cross' Cancer Journey
Cross was diagnosed with anal cancer in November 2017 following a routine check-up at the gynecologist. During a digital rectal exam, her doctor felt something unusual, so Cross was directed to a clinic to get it checked out. After two biopsies and one colonoscopy, it was revealed she had anal cancer.
RELATED: 'Get Your Pap Tests, Ladies!' Actor Marcia Cross Advocates for Screening During Cervical Cancer Awareness Month Cross has spoken candidly about her anal cancer journey and treatment side effects. "The side effects are so gnarly," Cross previously told
Coping magazine . "I will say that when I had my first chemo treatment, I thought I was doing great. And then out of nowhere, I felt this sting in my lip; it was excruciating. It was from the chemo."
RELATED: Anal Cancer Survivor Marcia Cross Launches Charity to Finally Put an End to the Stigma Associated With HPV-Related Diseases Cross has said that her anal cancer was HPV-related. In an earlier
interview with SurvivorNet , she says, "It was, in fact, HPV-related anal cancer. So I didn't have any symptoms. "Never had an irregular pap smear. I had never heard of HPV until my husband. We both probably carried it for most of our lives. I think there's just a vast lack of knowledge about HPV and how it's spread, how we carry it, what happens to it when you have it."
More On HPV-Related Cancers
Understanding Anal Cancer
According to the
National Cancer Institute , anal cancer is a disease in which cancer cells develop in the tissues of the anus. And a majority of this type of cancer is related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The institute explains, "The anus is the end of the large intestine, below the rectum, through which stool (solid waste) leaves the body. The anus is formed partly from the outer skin layers of the body and partly from the intestine. Two ring-like muscles, called sphincter muscles, open and close the anal opening and let stool pass out of the body. The anal canal, the part of the anus between the rectum and the anal opening, is about 1-1½ inches long. "The skin around the outside of the anus is called the perianal area. Tumors of the perianal skin that do not involve the anal sphincter are usually treated the same as anal cancers, although local therapy (treatment directed to a limited area of skin) may be used for some. Dr. Julian Sanchez, a surgeon in Moffitt Cancer Center's Gastrointestinal Oncology Clinic, previously spoke with SurvivorNet about the warning signs of anal cancer. He explained, "Putting diagnosis and treatment on the back burner [can lead] to the poor prognosis .These symptoms usually do not develop overnight. Often patients will have symptoms such as pain and bleeding." “If anal cancer is not treated early and effectively, the survival odds decrease and patients usually have to have major surgery to remove their anus and rectum," Dr. Sanchez said. "They will also need a permanent colostomy bag, a small pouch that collects waste from the body." While anal cancer may have no symptoms at all, in most cases,
bleeding is often the first sign of the disease , according to the American Cancer Society. At first, many people assume the bleeding is caused by hemorrhoids, which are a benign and fairly common cause of rectal bleeding. Important symptoms of anal cancer include:
- Rectal bleeding
- Rectal itching
- A lump or mass at the anal opening
- Pain or a feeling of fullness in the anal area
- Narrowing of stool or other changes in bowel movements
- Abnormal discharge from the anus
- Swollen lymph nodes in the anal or groin areas
While these symptoms may also be caused by benign conditions, like hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or anal warts, if you have any of them, it's important to have them checked by a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
Do What You Love During & After Cancer
During cancer treatment, and also after, it can be hard to focus on anything except your treatment or the challenges that follow a cancer battle. However, Cross is the perfect example that it’s important to do what you love and focus on something that makes you happy.
Do What You Love — Even if Cancer Gets in the Way of Your Dreams Experts recommend you try to take some time out of your day a few times a week and really enjoy those special pockets of joy. “We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,”
Dr. Dana Chase , a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, previously told SurvivorNet. “So working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival. If that’s related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities.”
Dr. Dana Chase Encourages Those Facing Cancer to Find Moments of Joy During Treatment Learning About HPV
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is “a group of more than 200 related viruses, some of which are spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex,” the National Cancer Institute
says . HPV infection is linked to multiple cancers, and the majority of sexually active people will get the disease at some point in their lives. Although nearly all cases of cervical cancer are indeed caused by HPV, people should also be aware that HPV puts both men and women at risk of developing several other cancers, such as oral cancer and cancers of the vagina, penis, anus, and throat. Overall, HPV is believed to be the cause of 90% of anal and cervical cancers, approximately 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers, and 60% of penile cancers. “There are no screening guidelines for throat cancer, unlike cervical cancer with pap smears,”
says Dr. Jessica Geiger , a medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center who previously told SurvivorNet. "There are no standard tests to determine if you harbor the virus.” On the plus side, HPV-related throat cancers are generally very responsive to a combination of radiation and chemotherapy treatments, according to Dr. Geiger. “The cure rates for people who have HPV-related disease are a lot higher than those who have tobacco-related throat cancer,” she said.
WATCH: HPV’s link to cancer. Protecting Against HPV
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 42 million people across the U.S. are infected with types of HPV that are known to cause disease. HPV impacts men and women and won’t cause problems for most people. However, in a small percentage of cases, it can lead to cancer. The HPV vaccine is recommended to protect against HPV and, therefore, HPV-related cancers. Gardasil 9 is an HPV vaccine that offers protection against “nine HPV types: the two low-risk HPV types that cause most genital warts, plus seven high-risk HPV types that cause most HPV-related cancer,” according to the National Cancer Institute. The vaccine creates an immune response to HPV 16, the primary cause of 92% of head and neck cancers. Once children are vaccinated, they cannot be infected with that strain. For parents, the HPV vaccine enables them to protect their children from developing cancer in the future. “The key with the vaccine is that you receive it before you have sexual encounters,” says Dr. Geiger. “So that’s why these vaccines are approved for young children, ages 9, 10, 11 years old, up to age 26.”
According to the CDC, the HPV vaccine is recommended for all male and female preteens 11 to 12 years old, and it is given in two doses between six and 12 months. The series of shots can also start as young as nine. The CDC also notes that teens and young adults through age 26 who didn’t start or finish the HPV vaccine series also need the vaccine. Additionally, people with weakened immune systems or teens and young adults between 15 and 26 who started the series should get three doses instead of two. Although adults up to 45 can still receive the vaccine, it’s not recommended for everyone older than 26. Still, a person older than 26 could choose to get vaccinated after talking to their doctor about possible benefits, even despite it being less effective in this age range, as more people have already been exposed to HPV by this point.
WATCH: Should children get the HPV Vaccine? Vaccine hesitancy can impede people from getting the vaccine. The concern may come from parents who may feel the vaccine paves the way for early sexual activity. For this reason, some health practitioners educate the public differently about the vaccine. “I think rebranding the vaccine as a cancer vaccine, rather than an STD vaccine, is critically important,”
says Dr. Ted Teknos , a head and neck cancer surgeon and scientific director of University Hospital’s Seidman Cancer Center. Dr. Teknos believes concerted efforts to “change the mindset around the vaccine” can make a difference.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff 
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