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didnt knew or heard much about Farrah in detail about the location of her cancer actually
I think the reason not much was said about the location of her cancer is because ,as I now know ,it is most likely caused by getting [anal sex]. I wish I had known this. I was told it is caused by the HPV that causes vaginal cancer.This is why we must always use a condom even if the top is NOT HIV positive.
My partner died of ano-rectal cancer and Hodgkins Disease (another form of cancer in white blood cells) complicated by HIV. My doc, a major HIV doc in DC, says anal pap smears are useless. I would like to see some data on them. My partner had Hodgkin's Disease and did chemo and lived five years when they discovered 4th stage Hodgkin's and then 4th stage ano-rectal cancer. He died 2 years later. I've always wondered how the cancer doc and our regular doc missed diagnosing him earlier,Particularly given his history, maybe in time to give him more years.
I forgot to respond to Richard Ferri. The lack of attention to the "anal" part was not Farrah's "fault" but the media's. Are you not aware that she chronicled her disease very openly in a highly rated documentary called Farrah's Story? It is discussed therein. She did not shrink away from it and in fact, wanted to get the word out that early detection can save lives. Something that, according to one of the original producers, was downplayed by Alana Stewart. Farrah was too sick to insist on that prevention message getting more attention.
You are right, it seems taboo in the media to have ben specific about Farrah's condition, I mainly heard it referred to as a "rare form of cancer," which is technically correct but not specific.
You are very correct on the issue of Miss Fawcett's tragic death from anal cancer. I found it equally tragic that she also rarely identified the "location" of the cancer. It all became "Farrah Fawcett has cancer and isn't that tragic" (which it is and was). However, the mega opportunity to bring anal cancer out of the "medical closet" may be the most tragic part of her death after all. If there had been more press about anal cancer then maybe we would have seen a major social and medical shift into screening like we did when Betty Ford and Happy Rockefeller came out in the 70s with their breast cancer diagnosis or - more closely to home - when "Magic" Johnson announced he had contracted HIV. I fully understand that everyone - celebrity or not - deserves their privacy, but his could have been a monumental shift in the health care community. Where I practice on Cape Cod which has one of the largest HIV positive populations in the entire state of Massachusetts I am the ONLY clinician who does anal pap smears on all people (men and women) who engage in anal sex. It is still mind numbing to me to talk to a new HIV patient about this and have him or her tell me that NO ONE has ever even mentioned this. This is as stunning as if a sexually active women would have announced her medical provider never suggested a vaginal pap smear or mammogram. It is time for POZ to step up to the plate on this issue and do a comprehensive article aim at both people living with HIV and their medical providers. The procedure is simple, quick, and painless. It also can save lives and ALWAYS provides a much neglected "teachable moment".
Sam
Yes, Farrah did talk about her cancer in dettail Right at the start, I recall seeing that she had anal cancer. As one who worked with STD's since the early 90's I have followed HPV for many years. The anal pap is absolutely needed for both sexes who engage in anal sex. Even women who have not had anal sex are coming down with anal cancer after being exposed to HPV vaginally. It must be part of regular screenings. It must be talked about more openly and Dr's who are doing this procedure must write more articles. We also need to have regular access to HPV tests, not just paps. Many disagree here. They say it doesn't matter, as long as one is screened regulary, but I disagree. It is important to know one's HPV status, but many tests only offer "reflex testing" which will only be used if an abnormality is found. Considering that HPV has been found in skin, anal, cervical, oral, and even lung cancers, I think it is important to know your HPV status. Thank you for this article.
May 18, 2010