Marcia Cross Had No HPV Symptoms Before Cancer—Here’s What She Wants Women to Know
The most high-risk strains of this viral infection often have no warning signs
Actress Marcia Cross thought she was in good health when a routine doctor’s visit revealed she had anal cancer. The suspected cause? Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a risk for women of all ages who are sexually active. In fact, it’s the most common sexually transmitted infection in the country. But HPV doesn’t always cause obvious symptoms in women, which is why it’s so easy to overlook.
Experts say there are various strains of the virus, and early detection and treatment is the best way to keep the high-risk virus from causing cancer like it did for Cross. Aside from talking to your doctor about HPV vaccination and keeping up with regular Pap smears, knowing the early warning signs is crucial for protecting your health. Here’s everything you need to know about the Desperate Housewives star’s journey and what to do if you think you’re experiencing HPV symptoms.
Marcia Cross had no obvious HPV symptoms
Cross was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2017. In 2019, she appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss her diagnosis and battle with the disease, which her doctors ultimately found was linked to HPV. The viral infection is typically sexually transmitted or spread through other types of skin-to-skin contact or oral sex.
Cross, who was 55 at the time, said her cancer was discovered during a routine digital rectal exam and that she was asymptomatic. “I was so not thinking anything was wrong because I didn’t have any symptoms, and she gave me an exam and came around and said, ‘Well, I just want you to know, whatever it is it’s curable,’” Cross said of her gynecologist.
“I felt very lucky because the only reason that it was discovered is because I had such a thorough, wonderful gynecologist,” Cross said. “I kind of owe her my life.”
Cross’ husband, Tom Mahoney, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2009. Doctors believe that the pair’s respective cancers stemmed from the same type of HPV, a strain that can be prevented with the vaccine (which is typically administered at age 11 or 12). “You have moments of terror, but it’s beyond tears,” she told People in 2019. “You’re in fight mode.”
According to an interview with Coping With Cancer magazine, Cross underwent cancer treatment and entered remission in 2018. She continues to see her gastroenterologist for check-ups.
Cross advocates for awareness of HPV and its symptoms
Since her diagnosis, Cross co-founded the HPV Cancers Alliance to spread awareness of HPV infections, break the stigma around cancer and empower others to advocate for their health.
“I’m very lucky, but it does take a while for your body to kind of get back to normal,” she told Coping With Cancer. “I say the new normal is that I am more sensitive of what I eat and take better care of myself and my diet. I do like to remind people that there is life post-cancer, and after a certain time, it won’t be the first thing you think about every day.”
HPV symptoms in women to watch for
In most cases, people who are infected with HPV will clear the virus in a year or two and exhibit no symptoms at all, says Liz Swenson, MD, FACOG, Medical Director and OBGYN at Teal Health. However, the following signs of infection are possible:
Genital warts
This is the most common symptom of HPV in women, says Dr. Swenson. Genital warts can develop from an infection with low-risk HPV (which is unlikely to become cancerous), she explains. You may not notice them or you might feel small, rough bumps on the skin of the genital area, she adds.
For women, these warts normally appear on the vulva and may cause itching or irritation of the vulvar skin, says Shana Combs, MD, Associate Professor in OB-GYN Department at Burnett School of Medicine at TCU.
These can appear as flat lesions, small, cauliflower-like bumps or very small stem-like protrusions.
Vaginal bleeding
A high-risk HPV infection can cause changes that lead to cervical cancer, typically over several years, explains Dr. Swenson. “If someone gets cervical cancer, they still may have no symptoms. But if symptoms are present, it is usually abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge,” she says.
You might also notice pelvic pain, discomfort or bleeding with sex or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, adds Dr. Combs. To be clear, these are potential symptoms of cervical cancer, not HPV itself.
Note: Unfortunately, HPV is generally asymptomatic in early cancer, says Jennifer Young Pierce, MD, FACOG, Gynecologic Oncologist at University of South Alabama.
“Women don’t usually develop symptoms of vaginal bleeding, particularly postcoital (post-sex) bleeding, pelvic pain, discharge and pain with intercourse until cancer is more advanced,” she says.
Vaginal irritation
In addition to cancer of the cervix, certain HPV infections can cause vulvar, vaginal, anal and throat cancers, as they did for Cross and her husband. If HPV progresses to vulvar cancer (a rare form), symptoms can include itching, irritation, vulvar skin changes or lesions, bleeding from the vulvar skin that is not due to menstruation and pelvic pain, explains Dr. Combs.
Some throat cancer patients do not experience symptoms, she notes, but the condition may cause sore throat, hoarseness and pain with swallowing.
What women should do if they suspect HPV symptoms
Your first step if you notice gynecological symptoms should be to visit your ob-gyn. The symptoms of HPV are nonspecific and can have many different causes—your doctor will help sort out whether you have HPV or if something else is the cause of your symptoms, says Dr. Young Pierce.
It’s important to remember that most cases of HPV do not develop into cancer (and those that do will be treated by a team of cancer specialists). In terms of non-cancerous strains of HPV, you can often work with your doctor to choose how you want to proceed.
Non-cancerous warts often go away without treatment, says Dr. Swenson, who says you can just monitor them and see if this happens.
“If you choose to treat your genital warts, your options will depend on the size, number and location of the warts,” she adds. “Keep in mind that topical treatments usually take several applications before the warts go away.”
Self-applied topical prescriptions that are used at home include podofilox or imiquimod, or providers can apply treatments in the office using liquid nitrogen or trichloroacetic acid, she explains. Laser or surgical procedures are sometimes needed for larger lesions.
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