Marcia Cross cancer of the anus caused by the same HPV as the cancer of the throat of the husband

Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross has learned that the same strain of HPV that caused her bad cancer probably caused cancer of her husband's throat.

Aged 57, he is now in remission after receiving a diagnosis of bad cancer last year during a routine digital examination after three months of grueling treatment.

And Marcia has now discovered that the same type of HPV, or human papillomavirus, a badually transmitted disease, has caused her cancer and cancer of her husband's throat, Tom Mahoney.

Tom fought the disease in 2009.

Marcia is now promoting HPV vaccination after learning that the current vaccine prevents the types of HPV that most commonly cause cancer – with her daughters getting vaccinated for the first time at the end of the school year.

The actress, known for her role in Bree Van De Kamp in Desperate Housewives, also wants to end the stigma surrounding bad cancer.

This morning, she told CBS, "I know there are people who are ashamed. You have cancer! Do you then have to be ashamed? As if you did something wrong, you know, because it's installed in your anus? I mean, come on, really. There is enough on your plate.

"Even for me, it took a while. Anus, anus, anus. You just have to get used to it.

Marcia added to People, as she has seen on cancer blogs, that "many people, women in particular, were too embarrbaded to say what kind of cancer they had. They were very ashamed about it. Even doctors were uncomfortable talking about anus.

"Since I'm very comfortable talking about the anus, I thought OK, I think I could probably help you by reducing the stigma a bit."

The mother of two, who shares the twins Eden and Savannah, aged 12, with her husband Tom, 13, now enjoys life more than ever after her health problems and said she Was taught self-love throughout his treatment.

She told CBS, "I feel like I'm back to normal, although it's a new normal, I do not think I'll ever take it for granted.

"I'm the girl who goes to the bathroom now and I'm going" Yes! It's great what my body can do! I am so grateful. & # 39;

Marcia informed her fans that she had battled cancer in September 2018, after sharing a picture of herself with short hair.

She wrote: "So grateful and happy to be alive but sad that my hair has fallen and is about an inch long now and looks creaky.

"Someone else has #hairloss because of # cancer … Talk to me, I understand you."

The star said she was "post-cancer" and wrote on Instagram: "It's a difficult journey, but I'm healthy, happy and more present and grateful than ever."