NEED TO KNOW
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A woman in Florida discovered her husband had been unfaithful, leading her to contract human papillomavirus (HPV).
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Shortly after, she received a diagnosis of vulvar, cervical, and anal cancer, all associated with HPV.
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Now, seven years post-diagnosis, she continues her painful cancer treatments and shares her story to raise awareness about the HPV vaccine.
A woman from Florida went through a tumultuous ordeal after finding out that her husband had cheated on her, which ultimately resulted in her battle with multiple cancers.
Eileen McGill Fox, a teacher and mother of four, learned of her husband’s infidelity after 30 years of marriage, as recounted in a piece by the Tampa Bay Times.
After the shocking revelation, she quickly sought STI testing at her healthcare clinic, where she felt a sense of relief when she tested negative for syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV.
However, during a routine Pap smear a year later, she was diagnosed with human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection not typically included in standard STI tests. This virus places individuals at an increased risk for various cancers, including those of the cervix, anus, vulva, vagina, and throat.
In February 2019, she was diagnosed with vulvar cancer; soon after, cervical cancer followed. By 2023, anal cancer was also confirmed.
Fox later realized that both the HPV and her subsequent cancers could have been prevented by the HPV vaccine, which is designed to protect against the virus types linked to most related cancers, according to the CDC.
Interestingly, Fox admitted she hadn’t thought about getting vaccinated when the shot became available in 2006, as she was already settled in family life.
Since her diagnosis, she has undergone a hysterectomy and continues to receive ongoing cancer treatments. Many painful procedures have been required, including laser treatments and skin removal surgeries to address precancerous cells.
Fox has become a patient advocate, intending to prevent others from experiencing what she has endured. She is open about her condition and encourages discussions around intimate health issues. “When I tell people I have anal cancer, I’m like, ‘It is what it is,’ ” she shared in her conversation with the Tampa Bay Times. “Let’s talk about vulvas and anuses and cervixes. Let’s remove the stigma and the shadow language for dealing with it.”
Expressing her concerns, she stated, “If it can happen to a married woman of 30 years, then it can happen to anybody. I’m a mother of four, living a life of work and community service, and then I find myself on the receiving end of this vicious, vicious virus.”
