The death of Farrah Fawcett after her long and courageous battle with anal cancer has saddened all of those who loved her. Farrah put an identity with a disease that is steeped in stigma.
Anal cancer is closely related to the human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV is the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer. This does not mean that Farrah had a history of sexual promiscuity; it just means that like many Americans, she was exposed to the virus at some point in her past.
Approximately between 45 and 90 percent of all caners of the anus are caused by the HPV virus. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S. Approximately twenty five percent of females in the United States are infected with the HPV virus, however only a small fraction of these women will develop anal cancer.
Anal cancer, although rare, has been on the rise in recent years. Due to the stigma and embarrassment of the disease, people are reluctant to tell their doctor that they are having anal pain, bleeding or itching.
Farrah, through her openness and honesty about her disease, has provided a great service to humanity by raising awareness about anal cancer and launching an open forum for discussion and information about this potentially deadly disease.
Comments
this is the biggest joke of an "article" ever. you didn't even spell cancer properly and there are zero citations from the medical community.
nice job, "journalist"
That's a very poor comment ml. You didn't use a capital letter after a full stop. Melissa's article links HPV to anal cancer - something people need to be made aware of. HPV is also linked to oral cancers. Good article.
As a survivor of anal cancer I can tell you several things beyond a shadow of a doubt.
1) Anal cancer IS caused by the HP virus
2) Farrah's openess gave me the strength to confront and beat it despite ridicule that closed minded people have with regards to this type of cancer
3) Anal cancer is NOT always a result of what you closed minded morons think it is.
4) I thank Farrah for coming out and announcing what whe was suffering. Had it not been for her candid openness I may not be a survivor.
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