I was forty-five years old and, by every measurable standard, the healthiest I had ever been.
Cancer was certainly not on my radar.
As a pharmacist and lifelong fitness enthusiast, I was proactive about my health. I believed I had done everything right to protect myself from serious illness.
I had previously been diagnosed with HPV-16, which had caused cervical dysplasia and led to a hysterectomy. I thought that chapter was behind me—and that I no longer had to worry about HPV-related cancer.
A routine colonoscopy proved that assumption wrong.
I was diagnosed with HPV-16–related anal cancer. I was completely blindsided—I had zero symptoms and had never even heard of anal cancer.
My initial management included surgical procedures, after which I was referred for standard chemoradiation. Although initially diagnosed as Stage I, further evaluation prior to treatment showed progression to Stage II. During treatment, I experienced significant radiation-related side effects, including radiation enteritis, which ultimately required hospitalization.
At my three-month follow-up, imaging raised concern for possible metastatic disease. The phrase “likely metastatic” appeared in my CT scan report, prompting further evaluation. A biopsy of a chest lymph node was performed and ultimately confirmed to be benign—but the period of uncertainty leading up to that result was one of the most difficult and frightening moments of my experience.
In addition to the physical challenges, I became increasingly aware of the stigma associated with this diagnosis. Initially, I found myself minimizing or avoiding discussion of it altogether.
Today, I am cancer-free.
And I no longer whisper my diagnosis.
When asked what type of cancer I had, I answer directly and clearly: anal cancer.
Increasing awareness matters. The final centimeters of the digestive system deserve the same attention as any other part of the body.
To anyone navigating this diagnosis—you are not alone. There is strength in knowledge, power in speaking openly, and a path forward—one you don’t have to walk alone.
