For Eileen McGill Fox, a school teacher and mother of four, the discovery of her husband’s infidelity after 30 years of marriage triggered a medical crisis that would span nearly a decade. What began as a search for peace of mind through STI screenings evolved into a harrowing battle with multiple cancers, highlighting the silent and often delayed impact of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
The trajectory of Fox’s health serves as a stark reminder that woman diagnosed with vulvar, cervical and anal cancer can be the result of a single viral transmission, even in long-term monogamous relationships where one partner is unfaithful. Her experience underscores a critical gap in standard sexual health screenings and the lifelong implications of HPV-related malignancies.
After learning of her husband’s betrayal, Fox sought immediate medical attention. She initially felt a sense of relief when tests for syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV returned negative. However, the standard STI panel did not include a screen for HPV, a virus that can remain dormant for years before causing cellular changes that lead to cancer.
Eileen McGill Fox
Credit: Owen McGill
The progression of HPV-related malignancies
It was not until a routine Pap smear a year after her initial screenings that Fox was diagnosed with HPV. From that point, the virus began to manifest in several areas of her body, leading to a series of devastating diagnoses. In February 2019, she was diagnosed with vulvar cancer, followed shortly by cervical cancer. By 2023, the disease had progressed to include anal cancer.
The medical reality of HPV is that it targets the mucosal membranes, putting individuals at high risk for cancers of the cervix, anus, vulva, vagina, and throat. As the virus can persist without symptoms, the transition from infection to malignancy can happen unnoticed until a routine screening or a physical symptom emerges.
Eileen McGill Fox
Credit: Maura Mudd
For Fox, the physical toll has been extensive. Her treatment journey included a hysterectomy and the surgical removal of much of her labia. Even years after her first diagnosis, she continues to undergo painful laser and skin removal procedures on her vulva and within her anal canal to burn away precancerous cells, a process necessary to prevent the cancers from returning or spreading further.
The role of the HPV vaccine in prevention
A central part of Fox’s current mission is educating others about the HPV vaccine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the vaccine protects against the specific types of HPV that cause the vast majority of HPV-related cancers. For many, this vaccine is the primary line of defense against the very malignancies Fox has endured.
Fox noted that she did not consider the vaccine when it first became available in 2006, as she was already married and raising children. This timing highlights a common gap in public health: the perception that vaccines for sexually transmitted infections are only for adolescents or those with multiple partners, rather than a general preventative measure for all adults within the recommended age range.
| Year | Medical Event / Diagnosis |
|---|---|
| Prior to 2019 | HPV detected during routine Pap smear |
| February 2019 | Diagnosed with vulvar cancer |
| Post-Feb 2019 | Diagnosed with cervical cancer; underwent hysterectomy |
| 2023 | Diagnosed with anal cancer |
| Present | Ongoing laser and skin removal procedures |
Breaking the stigma of “shadow language”
Now serving as a patient advocate, Fox is working to strip away the shame often associated with cancers of the reproductive and excretory systems. She argues that the “shadow language” used to describe these areas prevents people from seeking the screenings and vaccinations that could save their lives.
“When I advise people I have anal cancer, I’m like, ‘It is what it is,’” Fox said. “Let’s talk about vulvas and anuses and cervixes. Let’s remove the stigma and the shadow language for dealing with it.”
Eileen McGill Fox
Credit: Karla Bailey
Her story is intended to serve as a warning that risk is not always apparent. “If it can happen to a married woman of 30 years, then it can happen to anybody,” she added. “I’m a mother of four, living a life of operate and community service, then I identify myself on the receiving end of this vicious, vicious virus.”
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or vaccination.
As Fox continues her treatment and advocacy, she remains focused on increasing the uptake of the HPV vaccine and encouraging regular, comprehensive screenings. The next step for many patients in her position involves lifelong surveillance to manage the risk of recurrence in multiple sites.
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