Raising Awareness For Anal Cancer
- Anal cancer survivor Marcia Cross has teamed up with fellow survivor, and friend, Lillian Kreppel to launch HPV Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to eliminating stigma around HPV.
- The human papillomavirus (HPV) a common virus transmitted by skin to skin contact, and is linked to a variety of different cancers.
- Both Cross and Kreppel have previously talked to SurvivorNet separately about their brushes with anal cancer.
One of the main goals of the foundation is to put HPV-related cancers on the radar, which can end up saving lives. As opposed to other cancers such as breast, lung, or prostate HPV-linked cancers are not nearly discussed as much. Through their organization, they plan to educate men and women about prevention, signs of diseases (which can often be misdiagnosed), and abnormal pap smears’ connection to HPV. According to Kreppel, they’re marching forward with new initiatives and webinars where they will work with doctors, nurses, universities, hospitals, and celebrities in order to share their inspiring and important mission.
Cross echoes Kreppel’s sentiments in her own statement. “The HPV Alliance will do two important things,” Cross says. “First it will work to educate the public about this very misunderstood and ubiquitous virus. Secondly, it will work to facilitate changes in the medical profession to more effectively deal with the detection, prevention and treatment of HPV.”
Awareness for HPV-Linked Cancer
SurvivorNet previously spoke to both Cross and Kreppel in two separate interviews, where they’ve recounted their experiences battling anal cancer. Kreppel was diagnosed in September 2017 and Cross didn’t publicly share that she had battled the disease until 2019. Despite the stigma, both women have become passionate advocates for Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, in an effort to push for prevention.
Related: Should Children as Young as 9-Years-Old Get The HPV Vaccine?
“Through HPV, I got this anal cancer,” Kreppel previously told SurvivorNet. “And there’s a lot of ignorance and misconceptions about it. People need to know that HPV can cause these cancers and they need to know about it. They need to know for their children, for their grandchildren, for their nieces and nephews, about the vaccine. We need to do a big education and awareness push.”
Anal cancer survivor Lillian Kreppel encourages everyone to consider the HPV vaccine
For Cross, it was difficult to disclose her diagnosis due to her public image, but she didn’t want to feed into the stigma and stay silent. Plus, HPV-linked cancers, such as anal cancer, are rarely talked out in comparison to other diseases like breast or lung cancer. This is why Cross decided to step up and speak out.
"If I had had breast cancer, you would never have heard from me," Cross said at the People v. Cancer conference, hosted by The Atlantic LIVE in collaboration with SurvivorNet. "I would have moved on with life because there are plenty of people talking about it."
Related: Majority of Throat Cancer Diagnoses Are Caused by HPV Here's What You Need to Know
Cross’ connection to HPV-related cancers goes beyond her. Ten years ago, her husband was diagnosed with throat cancer, and the couple suspects her cancer could have been linked to his cancer. This could be possible, especially since there is a strong connection between throat cancer and the infection.
Marcia Cross talks to SurvivorNet about how she and her husband got through cancer together
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
