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Marcia Cross is sharing some insightful remarks. The former cast member of Desperate Housewives revealed how she's continuing to put her health first in a number of ways, starting with daily sunscreen and sun protection, six years after disclosing that she was diagnosed with anal cancer.
Cross exclusively told E! News, "I just have to do that—I don't want skin cancer," on September 30, at the 2024 Daytime Beauty Awards. "That needs to be the case for everyone on the earth right now. Kind of goes without saying. Keep your skin safe."
But since talking publicly about her cancer battle in 2018, she has also made the decision to emphasize the value of routine checkups.
"It's so hard, but you just have to keep up with all your appointments," Cross went on. "It's hard to stay on top of all that, but you know, it's lifesaving."
In the case of Cross, a routine digital rectal exam in 2017 revealed a cancerous mass discovered by her gynecologist.
She later said to CBS This Morning, "I was so not thinking anything was wrong because I didn't have any symptoms." "[My doctor] gave me an exam and she came around and said, 'Well, I just want you to know whatever it is, it's curable.'"
The Everwood actress announced that she was "post cancer" in September 2018 after undergoing 28 radiation treatments, including chemotherapy in the first and fifth weeks.
"Everything is fine now. Hard journey, but at that moment, I am HEALTHY, content, and more grateful than ever," she posted on Instagram. "Thank you from the bottom of my ever expanding heart for all of your LOVE."
As she put it, sharing a picture of her hair loss on social media made her feel "liberated, deliriously free and completely me." In fact, talking about her journey in public helped her heal even more.
"How or why this simple act gave me such a powerful life I did not question, but I thanked God or whatever gave me the internal push to move forward and expose myself," she wrote in her letter. "I definitely didn't anticipate the outpouring of generosity and love that I received. I need to greatly increase my receiving capacity! After overcoming cancer, I am ecstatic to be alive and am keen in authenticity, vulnerability, transparency, and love, of course."
These days, Cross is paying tribute to two additional individuals who motivate and inspire her: instructor Bonnie Stoll and swimmer Diana Nyad, whom she has known for thirty years and to whom she gave the Outstanding Achievement in Health & Fitness Award at the Daytime Beauty Awards.
Cross said of the two, "They're the most authentic, powerful, dynamic and interesting women," telling E! that they had taught her the value of "making the most of your life, living fully."
The Emmy nominee continued, "Their concern is to be alive, fully alive." "And to me, that's what makes them two of the most beautiful women I know, hands down."
