Mary: Let’s talk anal cancer…Hey. Where are you going?

Daniel: Are you embarrassed?

Mary: Which word is worse?

Daniel: Cancer?

Susie: Or anal?

Mary: Wait. Come back.

Daniel: Seriously? There’s no reason to be shy. It’s just another part of the body.

Mary: And it’s a vulnerable part.

Daniel: You can get cancer there.

Mary: I did.

Susie: So did I.

Daniel: Me too.

Susie: Anal cancer is a rare disease.

Daniel: But its risk factors and symptoms are way more common than you think.

Mary: 90% of people who get it have had the human papillomavirus, or HPV.

Daniel: Which is a really common virus spread through skin-to-skin contact.

Susie: Anal cancer symptoms can mimic hemorrhoids, including pain, itching, bumps, and other changes down there.

Daniel: More than 10,000 people were diagnosed with anal cancer last year—in the US alone.

All types of people can get it. Men, women, straight, or gay.

All: We bet that got your attention.

Mary: Anal cancer can be diagnosed after it has already spread, like mine was.

Daniel: Fortunately, there are treatments for anal cancer—even advanced cases.

Susie: But it starts by talking to your doctor—so let’s get comfortable saying it.

Daniel: Anal cancer.

Mary: Anal cancer.

Susie: Anal cancer.

Daniel: Letting four little letters get in the way of talking openly with your doctor—it's just not worth it.

VO (Mary): Let’s talk anal cancer and help shed the stigma.

Susie: Too much is at stake.

VO (Daniel): Visit AnalCancer.com to learn more and get a guide for talking with your doctor.