Desperate Housewives star makes heartbreaking confession about aftermath of anal cancer

Marcia Cross finds it "hard" to manage her life after cancer.

The 62-year-old actress was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2018 and has been in remission since the following year but admitted that it can be difficult to "keep up" with things like appointments in the time that has followed and makes a concerted effort to use sunscreen to protect herself now.

"I just have to [use sunscreen] - I don't want skin cancer. That just has to be for every person on the planet now. It's kind of a no-brainer. Protect your skin. It's so hard, but you just have to keep up with all your appointments. It's hard to stay on top of all that, but you know, it's lifesaving."

The former Desperate Housewives star was made aware of her cancer when her gynaecologist found a malignant mass during a routine digital rectal exam, and she later admitted that she had never even thought that anything would be wrong because she hadn't noticed any symptoms at all.

Speaking on CBS This Morning, she said: "I was so not thinking anything was wrong because I didn't have any symptoms. [My doctor] gave me an exam and she came around and said, 'Well, I just want you to know whatever it is, it's curable."

The Everwood actress underwent 28 radiation appointments and a couple of rounds of chemotherapy to combat the disease, and then took to her social media early 2020 to give her fans and followers the good news that she had beaten cancer.

She wrote: "All good now. Hard journey, but I am HEALTHY, happy and more present and grateful than ever. Thank you from the bottom of my ever expanding heart for all of your LOVE."

Marcia previously revealed that the same virus that sparked her anal cancer also caused her husband's throat cancer eight years previously.

And she was staggered when doctors told her the human papilloma virus - or HPV - that gave husband Tom Mahoney throat cancer in 2009 likely also caused her tumour to start growing.

The Bree Van De Kamp actress revealed she was forced to juggle work commitments with family life as Tom underwent gruelling treatment when their children Savannah and Eden were tiny.

"I would be like working all day. I would be in the emergency room at night. Plus, I had two toddlers. So it was a busy time," she told the broadcaster.

Eight years later, after Tom was put in remission, Marcia was diagnosed with her own cancer. "I know there are people who are ashamed. You have cancer! Do you have to then also feel ashamed? Like you did something bad, you know, because it took up residence in your anus? I mean, come on, really. There’s enough on your plate," she went on.

Marcia has since campaigned to raise awareness of the HPV vaccination, which she says both of her girls will get at the end of their current school year.

HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that most people will get in their life. Most strains are symptom-less, but some can cause genital warts or even cancer of the genitals, anus, cervix and throat.

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