The You actress, most known for her role on the legendary primetime soap Desperate Housewives, is an anal cancer survivor, and on March 25th she celebrated a huge milestone after beating the disease in 2018.
“Serenaded after the midnight hour by these two talented humans!!” Cross recently wrote on her Instagram alongside a video of a peppy birthday serenade from actors Joshua Sasse and Kevin Cahoon. “What a brilliant start to a new decade. #grateful #60.”
View this post on Instagram
The mom of two appears to be working on a new project, and captured the spirited video from a shuttle outside of a Loews hotel.
Related: Anal Cancer Survivor and Actor Marcia Cross Says 'Check Your Vulva'Her Brave Campaign To Remove Shame From Cancer
The sultry star also recently posted pics while out during fashion week for German designer Marc Cain’s show. Cross looked posh and polished in a modern turquoise power suit, complete with silver, high-heeled boots and a white handbag. She definitely doesn’t look a day over 40 and keeps her porcelain skin on point!
View this post on Instagram
It’s nice to see Cross’s career continue to soar, but her most important role to date (aside from being a mother of course) is as an advocate for anal cancer.
A Family Dealing with Cancer
Cross and her husband, Tom Mahoney, have actually both been through cancer, and opened up about the experience in a recent video interview with SurvivorNet.
The Massachusetts native said her diagnosis, which came out of the blue, naturally created a great deal of anxiety and stress, and not just in her marriage.
Related: Marcia Cross' Anal Cancer: Can You Really "Catch" Cancer From Your Partner?
"I have the most wonderful daughters," Cross expressed to SurvivorNet, "but their initial reactions were anger. You don't know how to process it, it's bad news. Eventually they were so loving and supportive of course, but in the first moment … you're not supposed to be that person, you're the mother! You're not supposed to be sick."
And of course, she said, "we had a history with cancer, so it brings up more trauma."
As for her relationship with her husband, Cross shared that during her cancer journey she wasn't always aware of how her struggle impacted him. Mahoney, she said, was amazingthere for her when she needed him, and an all-around great caregiver. But she didn't consider the emotions that would resurface for him as a throat cancer survivor.
Overcoming Their Fears Together How Marcia Cross and Her Husband Got Through Their Cancers
"My husband … he's a do-er, probably like most men," Cross said. "He took care of those kids. He was fantastic. When I needed him, I would say, 'I need you now.' My husband had already been traumatized and then he was around me going through it, and it didn't even occur to me until a doctor said, 'You know, this might be bringing up a lot of feelings for your husband.' I was like, 'Oh!' Because, of course all I was thinking about was myself!"
"We're all people with pros and cons and weaknesses and strengths," she added.
The Connection to HPV
Both Cross' anal cancer and Mahoney's throat cancer diagnoses were linked to HPV, Cross says. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection extremely common in the U.S., which can lead to several types of cancer.
"The vast majority of humans in the U.S., both men and women, will eventually get infected with human papillomavirus," said Dr. Allen Ho, a head and neck surgeon at Cedars-Sinai.
Related: 'Not Polite co*cktail Chatter' Fox Business Host Gerri Willis Aims to Take Away the Shame of HPV and Cancer
"The important thing to know about HPV is that there are many different strains, and only a couple of them tend to be more cancer-inducing,” Dr. Ho explained. “Probably less than 1% of the population who get infected happen to have the cancer-causing virus that somehow their immune system fails to clear, and over 15 to 20 years [it] develops from a viral infection into a tumor, and a cancer."
HPV and Cancer Risk: The Basics
Although it is extremely helpful to have a doctor educating about this disease, medical experts are not typically in the mainstream public eye, which is why it’s so important for actors and artists to use their celebrity for greater good.
Related: Anal Cancer Survivor Marcia Cross Launches Charity to Finally Put an End to the Stigma Associated With HPV-Related Diseases
Since being treated for the disease, Cross has become dedicated to spreading awareness about both HPV and taking the stigma away from having anal cancer. She points out that many people around her age are unaware that HPV can lead to cancerwhich may lead to people forgoing necessary screening. Take a cue from Cross and be sure to go in for a check-up with your doctor.
Contributing by various SurvivorNet reporters.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
