For nearly a decade, Mary, an elementary school teacher in Buffalo and mother of two, voiced concerns to doctors about itching, discomfort and blood in her stool. Her symptoms were repeatedly dismissed as hemorrhoids, creating a cycle of temporary relief without resolution. Things escalated in 2020 when a tumor prolapsed while she was using the bathroom.
She called her sister, an oncology nurse, who urged her to see a doctor. After a consultation, a colorectal surgeon performed a colonoscopy and removed the tumor. Initially thought to be a polyp, Mary learned that it was, in fact, cancerous.
Mary recalls, “I was at work when I received a message on my patient portal. I opened it and saw the word ‘malignant.’ In shock, I walked out of my classroom and collapsed in the hallway.”
Two days later, a PET scan confirmed she had stage 3C squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCAC), caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Unbeknownst to Mary, a 2007 HPV diagnosis put her at risk for the disease.
“Never did I think 13 years later, HPV would cause an advanced cancer diagnosis. It was out of mind and out of sight since I had a procedure to remove the abnormal tissue and didn’t receive another positive HPV test again,” Mary reflects.
Had she known that HPV is the leading risk factor for anal cancer, responsible for over 90% of cases, she would have insisted on further testing when her symptoms first appeared.1 Especially since anal cancer shares symptoms in common with non-cancerous conditions, such as hemorrhoids — including pain, itching, a lump or mass and changes in bowel movements.2
The delay in Mary’s diagnosis resulted in her cancer being diagnosed at an advanced stage, after it had spread to her lymph nodes. She underwent treatment and is now a proud anal cancer survivor or “thriver.”
Despite the hardships she has faced, Mary serves as a beacon of hope by helping others with anal cancer navigate their journey, inspired by the support she received.
Mary shares, “I was fortunate to have fellow anal cancer ‘thrivers’ who had been in my shoes cheer me on throughout my journey, empower me to keep going and check in on me daily. I’m lucky to do the same for others.”
As an educator, she is committed to increasing awareness of anal cancer to improve knowledge and encourage self-advocacy. As such, she is proud to share her story as part of Let’s Talk Anal Cancer — a national program developed by Incyte in collaboration with patients, advocates and anal cancer experts to normalize candid conversations about anal cancer by confronting embarrassment that can silence vital communication with doctors, delay diagnosis and isolate people from key social supports during their cancer journey.
“Advocate for yourself, know the risks, know the symptoms and get tested. You don’t get to choose where a tumor grows, so don’t let four little letters (anal) stop you from speaking openly with your doctor,” Mary advises.
Mary hopes her story will inspire others to trust their instincts and have candid conversations about anal cancer risks and symptoms with their doctors — because treatment is available, including for advanced cases.
Visit AnalCancer.com to learn more and download a guide to help navigate conversations with your doctor.
1 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cancers Linked With HPV Each Year. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/cases.html. Accessed November 25, 2025.
2 American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Anal Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/anal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html. Accessed November 25, 2025.
© 2026, Incyte. MAT-ONC-00462 01/26
