Many people avoid discussing discomfort in the anal area out of shame, and as a result, they often delay seeing a doctor. This issue is being highlighted by the biotech company Incyte with a new awareness campaign. Under the banner “The Last 3 cm Count,” the company is promoting more openness when it comes to anal health. The title refers to the average length of the human anal canal—about three centimeters.
Accompanying the initiative is a planned podcast called “Status Po” as well as an information booth at Munich’s Pride festival. The goal is to break down prejudices and raise public awareness of the importance of preventive care and early detection, the company said.
70 percent have never heard of anal cancer
The campaign is prompted by results from a representative YouGov survey of more than 2,000 people in Germany. According to the findings, 70 percent of respondents have never heard of anal cancer. More than half feel uncomfortable talking about anal health. This reticence is especially pronounced among younger people: 62 percent of Generation Z and 59 percent of Millennials reported such barriers.
Campaign aims to lower barriers
With the campaign, the company said, these information gaps should be closed. The Munich Pride festival provides a suitable platform for this. “The Pride festival stands for visibility, openness, and community — values that are essential in health education as well,” Incyte said in a press release. “It’s about being in the thick of it, presenting ourselves as partners, and drawing attention to preventive care and early detection.”
The initiative was launched in collaboration with international patient organizations. It adopts a low-threshold approach that combines medical information with everyday language. According to the company, early medical evaluation is crucial for detecting conditions in this area. The goal is to encourage more people to seek medical advice promptly when they have concerns.
Talking about anal health without stigma
“We need to stop staying silent about important health topics like anal health out of a misplaced sense of shame,” said Martina Gernet, Director of Public Affairs at Incyte. “With the ‘The Last 3 cm Count’ campaign, we want to break down these barriers and foster a society where anal health is discussed openly and without stigma. Be PO-active — because the last three centimeters of our body deserve our full attention.”
Incyte is an international biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies in the fields of oncology, hematology, and dermatology.
