As health care workers continue to risk their lives during the coronavirus pandemic, actress Marcia Cross is making sure they get fed.
Cross, a 58-year old anal cancer survivor, has previously talked to SurvivorNet about her brave work to raise awareness about anal cancer prevention and remove the shame of the disease. Now she’s helping feed nurses at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center through a campaign called Feed Hero Nurses. This campaign is partnered with Postmates and non-profit Random Acts with a mission to deliver food to healthcare workers so they can avoid the stress of grocery shopping during Covid-19.
Read MoreMarcia Cross’ Battle With Anal Cancer
In 2018, Cross told fans that she was undergoing treatment for anal cancer a type of cancer that’s not often discussed due to stigma. Cross revealed that the cancer was caused by the sexually transmitted virus Human papillomavirus infection (HPV), and after being declared cancer-free she became an advocate for removing stigma around the HPV vaccine and anal cancer.
“If I had had breast cancer, you would never have heard from me," Cross said at the People v. Cancer conference, hosted by The Atlantic LIVE in collaboration with SurvivorNet. "I would have moved on with life because there are plenty of people talking about it.”
Cross’ advocacy stems from her experience receiving the diagnosis. While speaking to SurvivorNet, Cross said that she exhibited no symptoms and had never had an irregular pap smear or even heard of HPV until she was diagnosed.
“It’s vitally important that ever gynecologist give their patients digital rectal exams,” Cross told SurvivorNet. “It’s life or death.”
Marcia Cross talks about HPV and her anal cancer diagnosis
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