Going Viral - No one should die from embarrassment

About Going Viral - No one should die from embarrassment

How do you find a disease that no one is looking for? This podcast explores the conundrum of anal cancer and pre-cancer; an HPV-related disease that is misunderstood and often misdiagnosed. The anus is a topic that we don't talk about…perhaps because this part of our body creates an odd sense of uncleanliness, taboo, and shame. Our podcast will be frank, practical discussions with international medical experts, patients and advocates. We will break through the shame, blame, and denial, and bring awareness to anal cancer and pre-cancer, ultimately saving lives! Please join us for 25 minutes of stimulating, interesting, factual, and life-changing discussion on anal canal and precancer sponsored by IANS (the International Anal Neoplasia Society)!

Publisher

Eric Ganz, MD and Mary-Jo Murphy, RN

Category

health & fitness · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Jun 2023

Latest episode

5 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Sept 2026

   In the Know with Dr. Lawrence Piro

   In this interview, Dr. Piro discusses what it means to be a healer—not simply an educator, diagnostician, or treating physician, but someone who recognizes that patients bring their life experiences, strengths, skills, and coping strategies to the cancer journey. He speaks to the importance of truly getting to know his patients and building connection through respect, humanity, and even humor. He reflects on what made Farrah Fawcett such an inspiration and shares the thinking behind the physical environment he created at The Angeles Clinic—one designed to communicate safety, dignity, and respect.

2. 

   26 Apr 2026

   Hablar e Falar Claro: Anal Cancer Screening in Latin America

   There is a clear call to create a space for sharing experiences in IANS' many languages, where exchange is often richer and more precise. This open and honest exchange, with the help of two talented interpreters, taught us that opportunities exist for IANS to rethink how to move toward more inclusive, multilingual exchanges that reflect the international community it serves. Drs. Valéria Uellner and Luciana La Rosa, from IANS' Spanish/Portuguese Task Force, underscore the global reach of our podcast audience. From Brazil and Argentina, the doctors discuss the challenges of practicing this specialty across vastly different settings. From rural to urban, resources vary widely. The conversation, our first trilingual attempt, evolves to illustrate how real-time dialogue can shift meaningfully when people can express themselves without restraint. It highlights the beauty of allowing clinicians to present themselves more authentically when speaking in their own language. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Há um apelo claro para a criação de um espaço de compartilhamento de experiências nas diversas línguas da IANS, onde o intercâmbio é, muitas vezes, mais rico e preciso. Esse intercâmbio aberto e honesto — viabilizado com o auxílio de duas talentosas intérpretes — nos ensinou que existem oportunidades para a IANS repensar seu caminho rumo a intercâmbios mais inclusivos e multilíngues, que reflitam a comunidade internacional à qual serve. As Dras. Valéria Uellner e Luciana La Rosa, integrantes da Força-Tarefa de Espanhol/Português da IANS, ressaltam o alcance global da audiência do nosso podcast. A partir do Brasil e da Argentina, as médicas discutem os desafios do exercício dessa especialidade em contextos amplamente distintos. Do meio rural ao urbano, os recursos variam consideravelmente. A conversa — nossa primeira experiência trilíngue — evolui para ilustrar como o diálogo em tempo real pode adquirir um novo significado quando as pessoas têm a liberdade de se expressar sem restrições. O episódio destaca a beleza de permitir que os profissionais clínicos se apresentem de forma mais autêntica ao se expressarem em sua própria língua. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Há um apelo claro para criar um espaço para o compartilhamento de experiências nos muitos idiomas da IANS, onde a troca é frequentemente mais rica e precisa. Essa troca aberta e honesta, com a ajuda de dois intérpretes talentosos, nos ensinou que existem oportunidades para a IANS repensar como avançar em direção a intercâmbios mais inclusivos e multilíngues que reflitam a comunidade internacional que ela atende. As Dras. Valéria Uellner e Luciana La Rosa, da Força-Tarefa Espanhol/Português da IANS, ressaltam o alcance global do nosso público de podcast. Do Brasil e da Argentina, as médicas discutem os desafios de praticar esta especialidade em cenários muito diferentes. Do rural ao urbano, os recursos variam amplamente. A conversa, nossa primeira tentativa trilingue, evolui para ilustrar como o diálogo em tempo real pode mudar significativamente quando as pessoas podem se expressar sem restrições. Destaca a beleza de permitir que os clínicos se apresentem de forma mais autêntica ao falar em sua própria língua.

3. 

   23 Feb 2026

   The Screening Nobody Mentions: Anal Cancer. A Conversation with Dr. Tamzin Cuming

   Dr. Tamzin Cuming — a colorectal surgeon and the second woman president of the International Anal Neoplasia Society (IANS) — discusses teamwork, gender bias, and the urgent need to destigmatize conversations about anal cancer. She highlights IANS's impact on her career and its commitment to structured training and organized prevention, urging clinicians to listen carefully, examine thoroughly, and speak openly about symptoms and risk factors. Addressing misconceptions about women's risk, she envisions a future in which screening is routine and cross-specialty collaboration is standard. Though decades away, she imagines a time when these efforts will succeed in "putting ourselves out of business." Dr. Cuming is also working on a book, Bottoms Up: Tales from Surgery's Back End.

4. 

   7 Jul 2025

   PERSEVERANCE, CREATIVITY, AND TEAMWORK “WHERE IT’S HAPPENING”

   With a background in colorectal surgery and health informatics, as well as a passion for promoting prevention within the LGBTQ+ community, Dr. Elliot Aroniadis accomplished something unprecedented. At the Twin Cities Pride Event in 2023, his group, Save The Bottoms, provided on-site self-screening for anal pre-cancer and cancer. A few days later, his presentation about the success of this event at Grand Rounds impressed his professional community. This led to a collaboration with the Masonic Cancer Center, the University of Minnesota, and The Randy Shaver Research and Community Fund. A team builder and innovator with experience in health informatics, Aroniadis understands how to leverage technology in daily life. By partnering with community influencers, Save The Bottoms effectively uses social media to reach underserved communities in Minneapolis and throughout Minnesota. Resourceful and visionary, his unique skills are enhancing awareness and prevention of anal cancer and its precursors. His team describes working with him as “fun,” which is how we would characterize this interview!

5. 

   24 May 2025

   BOTTOM LINE: Preventing colorectal and anal cancers - A frank discussion with two influential pioneers who are making a difference

   Entrepreneurs David and Daniel discuss their work with Cheeky Charity to raise awareness about anal and colorectal cancers in the LGBTQ+ community through education and humor, in this interview.

6. 

   27 Jan 2025

   Radical Feminism, Bravery and Vision: The Creation of Two Giants in the Field of Anal Dysplasia and Screening

   Today, gender care is fluid, but in 2012, in the early days of ANCHOR, it took the NY Times and a brave Boston gynecologist to shift the direction of focus of anal cancer prevention. On the other coast, a self-described radical feminist was told that “the anus is just like the cervix,” and a historical career began. In this podcast, Drs. Beth Stier and Naomi Jay discuss how they collaborated to build consensus from a large group with diverse expertise to create the first Consensus Guidelines for Anal Cancer Screening (2024). This project is changing the course of anal cancer screening. Looking toward the future, the next big step will involve an Implementation task force. “No one is willing to wait another seventeen years for the changes to occur.” The speakers’ challenge, “Get involved.  There’s so much work to be done.”

7. 

   2 Sept 2024

   Anal Cancer Foundation - Passion, Determination & Love: A Conversation with Justine & Camille Almada

   Anal Cancer Foundation - Passion, Determination & Love:  A Conversation with Justine & Camille Almada For Justine, Camille, and Tristian Almada anal cancer is personal. After losing their dear mother, Paulette, to Stage IV HPV-related anal cancer in 2010, the siblings set out to change the course of this disease. In her honor, they created what they wished had been available to them, The Anal Cancer Foundation. For over a decade, their work has improved awareness as they advocate for policies that help eradicate the disease and educate about the importance of early detection and HPV vaccination uptake. In this interview, the two sisters describe not only their frustration with the lack of research and treatment options when their mother was diagnosed but also their vision that provides peer support and contributes to long-overdue research. In this moving and inspiring interview Camille a nurse practitioner in oncology expresses her hopes to cast a wider to all HPV – related cancers. With the message “You are not alone,” Justine discusses the victories that have changed the face and experience of anal cancer, offering hope to thrivers whose lives are made better by the Anal Cancer Foundation’s gallant vision. Camille’s expressed views are her own and do not reflect those of her employer, Mount Sinai Health System. The Anal Cancer Foundation was a strong financial support for the establishment of IANS.

8. 

   5 May 2024

   Improving Barriers to Intimacy - A Toolbox

   IMPROVING BARRIERS TO INTIMACY – A TOOLBOX Irena Nurkic is a specialist in continence and pelvic health physiotherapist at the Royal Perth Hospital in Western Australia. With over fifteen years of in-depth clinical expertise in management of pelvic health conditions in women, men and transgender persons, she lectures and serves as a clinical tutor at Curtin University. In this interview Irena generously shares her passion for learning and translating science into patient care. She applies her expertise to improve and manage often ignored biological changes of post-pelvic radiation. Her approach is person-centered, supporting the patient in identifying hard-to-discuss sexual, incontinence and pelvic pain issues. She discusses her team’s interdisciplinary approach and her role as a PT in guiding her clients in what to expect after treatment and in setting short and long-term personal priorities and aspirations. Her expressed expertise is filtered through her approachable, kind, and sensitive demeanor. All patients' issues and goals are different. She offers hope for often ignored post-treatment quality-of-life concerns. She validates that “bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction post-radiation are a problem, and we have tools.”

9. 

   8 Apr 2024

   Dr. Andrew Wong -- Leading Hong Kong's Anal Pre-Cancer Programs

   In this podcast Dr. Wong discusses how a talk he heard about HRA, high resolution anoscopy, piqued his interest in something he knew nothing about. He reasoned because he was caring for HIV patients that he should know more. He found his way to places where HRA was done and where he could be trained. His interest and dedication took him from his home in Hong Kong to Australia, to New York and San Francisco, where he learned from the experts. In a compelling interview, Dr. Wong shares the challenges and successes of his impressive professional journey. He discusses his fascination with this specialty and his commitment to bringing more trained specialists to Asia.

10. 

    24 Mar 2024

    Exploring New Territory - A Conversation with Dr. Mary Birdsall

    Dr. Mary Birdsall didn’t see herself getting anal cancer, and neither did her physician colleagues. As a GYN specializing in IVF she found herself, not the expert, but the “man on the street.” In this interview, she speaks frankly and passionately about her own struggle to have her symptoms taken seriously and her commitment to agitate for primary and secondary prevention. She shares of how deeply troubling the diagnosis was and how isolated she felt. “You’re not the person who’s supposed to get this,” was her GI doctor’s response. She explores the disservice this lack of awareness does to women and speaks hopefully of her dreams for the future. “I wish for anal cancer to be entirely prevented much like the trajectory for cervical cancer because we have the knowledge and the tools we just need to implement them.” Dr. Birdsall created ACSSA, Anal Cancer Support Services Aotearoa https://www.analcancer.co.nz/who-we-are to serve anal cancer and pre-cancer patients in New Zealand and Australia.

11. 

    4 Dec 2023

    Dr. Joel Palefsky: The Father of Anal Dysplasia Screening, Treatment, and Research

    Dr. Joel Palefsky discusses his long career and trailblazing research. He discusses the cervical model which informed his research. He talks of the success of his groundbreaking ANCHOR study, a large clinical trial that found, as with the cervix, treating anal precancerous growths greatly reduces the chance of developing cancer. As his work evolved, Palefsky’s vision expanded. He saw a need to create a way for scientists and clinicians in this young field to interact and collaborate. The Anal Cancer Foundation and the Farrah Fawcett Foundation graciously stepped up to help financially, and IANS was born. Dr. Palefsky sees ANCHOR as only the beginning of creating innovations in patient care. He expresses hopefulness that in the future the 500,000 specimens collected during the study will help define HPV types and identify which will regress and which remain persistent. His work was not done for prestige, but his groundbreaking study has brought him that. Dr. Palefsly ends with a reflection on his life’s work, hopes and dreams.

12. 

    8 Nov 2023

    Discussions with Marcia Cross and Lillian Kreppel – Activists, Fighters, and Anal Cancer Survivors

    THE ANUS HAS A PERCEPTION PROBLEM The founders of the HPV Cancers Alliance, Lillian Kreppel and actress, Marcia Cross speak frankly about how their own experience with anal cancer became the impetus to get the word out about HPV – related cancers. One had symptoms that were dismissed, the other no symptoms. It’s the difference between life and death that women ask their GYNs for a simple DARE exam. Marcia and Lillian are outspoken in this interview about their commitment to changing attitudes about an important and stigmatized body part. “It’s not my area,” is not an answer they are willing to accept. They talk about their commitment to do something, by educating both women and their doctors about the importance of crossing the “magic line.”

13. 

    8 Oct 2023

    The Farrah Fawcett Foundation: Friendship, Sisterhood, and Legacy... a Conversation with Alana Stewart

    BE PRESENT FOR THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE Alana Stewart stayed at Farrah Fawcett’s side supporting and advocating, through treatments and ultimately her friend’s heartbreaking death. This interview with the president of the Farrah Fawcett Foundation, reflects the kindness and love present in the pages of her best-selling book, My Journey With Farrah. A Story of Life, Love and Friendship. With warmth and frankness, Alana shares her experience as a friend and caregiver. She discusses the creation of the 2009 Emmy award-winning documentary, Farrah’s Story.   With humility, she recreates how she accepted the role of filmmaker. Her images brought to the public an intimate glimpse of the ugliness of cancer and the beauty of their sisterhood. Farrah herself established The Foundation and intended to run it. Her vision was to bring research dollars to lesser known cancers and to help those in need by providing patient assistance. Alana discusses their collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer, SU2C, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation that raises funds for translational cancer research. With warmth and frankness Alana discusses what her life was like before, during and now, as the journey continues. She imparts important life lessons for caregivers who live through similar stress, fear and anxiety. With the tenderness of a person whose life has been profoundly changed, she expresses her insights. “Be grateful. Show down. Live every moment. Life is valuable.”

14. 

    21 Sept 2023

    Kick your butt into shape with Dr. Stephen Goldstone!

    New York City general surgeon, Stephen Goldstone, was working in the realm of ano-rectal surgery, when he began noticing “strange histology.” At the same time, the University of California San Francisco, UCSF, was doing early research on anal cancer and pre-cancer. What he calls “a match made in heaven” combined research and treatment and heralded historic change in how anal cancer would be talked about and treated around the world. The second president of IANS discusses his personal and professional journey and his book The Ins and Outs of Gay Sex: A Medical Handbook for Men. In a tone that reveals why his patients love and respect him, he offers practical, frank advice on anal hygiene and post-treatment sexuality. His guidance is relevant to all sexes.

15. 

    27 Aug 2023

    GETTING TO KNOW THE PRESIDENT... of the International Anal Neoplasia Society (IANS) - DR. LUIS BARROSO

    Anal cancer and pre-cancer detection and treatment is a new and highly specialized field. Dr. Luis Barroso, president of IANS, discusses the organization as a resource for patients and providers. He shares the medical society’s vision that includes publishing guidelines and expanding the infrastructure for Anal Cancer and Dysplasia around the world.

16. 

    1 Jun 2023

    AN INTRODUCTION TO GOING VIRAL

    An Introduction to Going Viral How did we get here? Today, you will you will get to know our podcasters for “Going Viral: No one should die from embarrassment”, Dr. Eric Ganz and Mary-Jo Murphy, and how this podcast came to be.  Dr. Ganz is a board-certified ObGyn and Anal Dysplasia expert and Mary-Jo Murphy is a Registered Nurse, Patient Advocate, and anal cancer survivor.  You’ll hear their personal stories and their motivations for working in the field of anal dysplasia and anal cancer.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

54

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

71

Contact Going Viral - No one should die from embarrassment

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.