NEED TO KNOW
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A woman from Florida discovered her husband had been unfaithful and transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) to her.
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Shortly after, she was diagnosed with cancers of the vulva, cervix, and anus, which are associated with HPV.
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Seven years post-diagnosis, she continues to face painful cancer treatments and is now sharing her experience to raise awareness about the HPV vaccine.
A woman from Florida faced a long, tough journey after finding out about her husband’s infidelity and the multiple cancers linked to HPV.
Eileen McGill Fox, a school teacher and mother of four, learned about her husband’s unfaithfulness after 30 years of marriage, as detailed in a profile.
Following the discovery, she sought an STI screening and was relieved to test negative for syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV.
But a year later, during a routine Pap test, she found out she had HPV—an STI not typically included in standard screenings. This revelation indicated a heightened risk for various cancers.
Fox received her diagnosis of vulvar cancer in February 2019, soon followed by cervical cancer, and then anal cancer in 2023.
She learned that the HPV vaccine could have potentially prevented her situation. This vaccine is designed to protect against strains of HPV that predominantly cause related cancers, according to health authorities.
However, Fox mentioned she didn’t consider getting vaccinated when it became available in 2006, as she was already married with children by then.
Since her diagnosis, Fox has undergone a hysterectomy and continues to deal with regular cancer treatments. She has had significant surgery on her labia and frequently endures painful procedures to eliminate precancerous cells.
Now, as a patient advocate, Fox hopes sharing her story will help others avoid similar experiences.
“When I say I have anal cancer, I just think, ‘It is what it is,’” Fox shared. “We need to discuss vulvas and anuses and cervixes more openly.”
“If it can happen to a married woman of 30 years, it can happen to anyone,” she emphasized. “I’m a mother of four, leading a busy life, and yet here I am, battling this relentless virus.”
