Having survived invasive anal cancer 17 years ago and dealing now with a recurrence I think she showed tremendous courage in exposing what most people are blissfully unaware of, the horrific and often painful treatments cancer patients must undergo. I needed to watch it because I wanted to see if they mentioned HPV at all since 90% of anal cancers are believed to be caused by HPV. I was a bit of a wreck for the next three days having flashbacks of my own treatments. I only wish they had done a public service announcement at the end telling people anal cancer can be preventable and about HPV. I found it odd they would begin with her at Stage 4 with liver mets and not tell how she was diagnosed, what people need to watch for etc. In this regard it truly was, in my opinion, a missed opportunity to enlighten the 9 million people who watched the documentary. Anal cancer is still a hush hush disease mainly because people dont want to talk about THAT body part. For years I told people had colorectal cancer because that was better "received" by others.
In the midst of all this stress, I have had to be fighting with the insurance company which has delayed my surgery by three months and I am frightened of just how much it may have progressed during this time.
Anal cancer truly doesn't need more research money. When 90% are determined to be caused by HPV, the course should be obvious = get the Gardasil vaccine if you are able and get your daughters vaccinated as well. For those of us already dealing with HPV this is of no help but it can help to potentially eradicate anal and other cancers caused by the virus. Unfortunately the connection between HPV and cervical cancer is so ingrained in peoples heads that they are clueless that it can also cause a myriad of other cancers.
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Having survived invasive anal cancer 17 years ago and dealing now with a recurrence I think she showed tremendous courage in exposing what most people are blissfully unaware of, the horrific and often painful treatments cancer patients must undergo. I needed to watch it because I wanted to see if they mentioned HPV at all since 90% of anal cancers are believed to be caused by HPV. I was a bit of a wreck for the next three days having flashbacks of my own treatments. I only wish they had done a public service announcement at the end telling people anal cancer can be preventable and about HPV. I found it odd they would begin with her at Stage 4 with liver mets and not tell how she was diagnosed, what people need to watch for etc. In this regard it truly was, in my opinion, a missed opportunity to enlighten the 9 million people who watched the documentary. Anal cancer is still a hush hush disease mainly because people dont want to talk about THAT body part. For years I told people had colorectal cancer because that was better "received" by others.
In the midst of all this stress, I have had to be fighting with the insurance company which has delayed my surgery by three months and I am frightened of just how much it may have progressed during this time.
Anal cancer truly doesn't need more research money. When 90% are determined to be caused by HPV, the course should be obvious = get the Gardasil vaccine if you are able and get your daughters vaccinated as well. For those of us already dealing with HPV this is of no help but it can help to potentially eradicate anal and other cancers caused by the virus. Unfortunately the connection between HPV and cervical cancer is so ingrained in peoples heads that they are clueless that it can also cause a myriad of other cancers.
May 25, 2009 - 11:31amThis Comment
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