'Desperate Housewives' Star Reveals Secret Anal Cancer Battle

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'Desperate Housewives' Star Reveals Secret Anal Cancer Battle

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Marcia Cross is no stranger to the devastating effects of cancer.

In August 1993, her longtime partner actor Richard Jordan died at the age of 56 from complications related to a brain tumor.

Decades later, the Desperate Housewives star had to once again care for a loved one with cancer. Her husband Tom Mahoney wad diagnosed with throat cancer in 2010.

Cross confirmed that he was "100 percent cancer-free" after a year, but that wouldn't be the last time that the couple would deal with the terrible disease.

The 56-year-old recently shared an update on Instagram, revealing that she was diagnosed with cancer, and is "sad" that she lost her famous red hair.

"So grateful and happy to be alive but sad that my hair fell out and is about 1 inch long now and looks cra cra," she wrote in the caption of a selfie. "Anyone else have #hairloss due to #cancer? Talk to me. I feel you."

Fans were concerned that the actress was still sick, but she shared a second post in which she clarified her prognosis and said she is "all good now."

"Dear Kindest Followers,

I am so sorry my post wasn't clear. I am POST cancer. All good now. Hard journey, but I am HEALTHY, happy, and more present and grateful than ever.

Thank you from the bottom of my ever expanding heart for all of your LOVE.

So many of Cross' fans and fellow celebrities instantly showed their love and support for her.

Her Melrose Place co-star Kelly Rutherford wrote, "I love you," while Fuller House star Lori Loughlin commented, "Always Stunning."  

One fan chimed in saying, "So happy you are doing better. 🙏🏻 💕You are so talented and beautiful!" Another wrote, "You're [sic] beautiful and congratulations on your healing 💯🙏🏻♥️ praying for you."

In a third Instagram post, the mother-of-two further opened up about her anal cancer diagnosis and the relief she felt after sharing her secret with the world.

After posting a picture of myself here and uttering the words #cancer and #hairloss, I felt liberated, deliriously free and completely me.

How or why this simple act gave me such a powerful lift I did not question, but I thanked God or whatever gave me the internal push to move forward and expose myself.

I certainly wasn't expecting the response of love and kindness that flowed to me. My capacity to receive requires a massive expansion! I am ecstatically alive and what interests me post-cancer is #AUTHENTICITY. #VULNERABILITY. #TRANSPARENCY. And of course #LOVE.

On that note, if you were wondering, I had #analcancer. I know, right?!

Thank you again for your love and for sharing your personal stories of struggle with #cancer and #hair loss and getting your footing in the world.

Always,

Marcia

Cross' most recent role was in the FBI drama Quantico, but since the ABC show has been cancelled, she will now have plenty of time to focus on her recovery before jumping back into the spotlight.

Blair isn't a bestselling author, but she has a knack for beautiful prose. When she isn't writing for Shared, she enjoys listening to podcasts.