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!

Bottom Line

A candid and delightful discussion with two pioneers who are shaping the awareness of anal and colorectal cancer in the LGBTQ+ community.

What do an entrepreneur and a stand-up comic have in common? A desire to raise awareness for the LGBTQ+ community about anal and colorectal cancers. David founded Cheeky Charity following his own health scare with colorectal cancer in 2021. Daniel has been HIV positive for fourteen years and was engaged in advocacy when he was diagnosed with anal cancer.

The two began collaborating only a year ago, providing special sensitivity to mental health issues. Their approach is to educate, entertain, and inspire. With an awareness of cancer's psychological, physical, and spiritual effects, Cheeky Charity combines humor with education, creating a unique and effective strategy.

Talking about cancer at Pride events across the country, Cheeky Charity strives to keep the community healthy by addressing the risks openly. With ease of conversation that encourages people to lower their guard, they convey their message through excellent website design and honest dialogue.

Stigma is a struggle. Unapologetically irreverent, Cheeky Charity fosters an environment that promotes prevention through awareness and early detection. Their myth-busting, empowering message of support is straightforward: Love your body. Love yourself. Recognize your risk. Get screened.

Cheeky Charity https://www.cheekycharity.org/

Christian and Daniel Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weUpUE7ZDGU

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.”