Cancer Quote by Mary Roach
““I didn’t realize Farrah Fawcett had died of anal cancer. There were references to her ailment as cancer “below the colon.” It was like my mother, when I was a kid, calling the vagina “your bottom in front.” Up through 2010, anal cancer had no nonprofit society, no one to organize fund-raisers and outreach, no colored awareness ribbon. (Even appendix cancer has a ribbon.)* Like cervical cancer, anal cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus; people get it via sex with an infected person, and that seems like something they ought to know when making decisions about using a condom.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Book of Cancer Myths, 2015
Anal cancer lacks public awareness, leading to insufficient support and prevention.
In simple terms: Anal cancer is under‑recognized.
Key Takeaway
Raise awareness and support for anal cancer.
Themes
health
awareness
stigma
Mood
empathetic
urgent
Type
advocacy
informational
When to use this quote
- patient advocacy
- health education
- policy lobbying
Key Concepts
public health
HPV
fundraising
Questions to Reflect On
- What steps can reduce stigma around anal cancer?
- How can we improve funding for rare cancers?
A Different Perspective
Stigma may hinder open discussion and funding.
![“[If you hear a] story about how eating sausage leads to anal cancer, you will be skeptical, because it has never happened to anyone you know, and sausage, after all, is delicious.” quote by David McRaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/243/david-mcraney-10077_cancer_if-you-hear-a-story-about-how-eating-sau_1733495.jpg)
