Hi my Name is Lori Vanta. I am a 41 yr old who lives in San Antonio Texas. I have the great honor of being a stay at home Mom…
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Faces of Blue is colorectal cancer survivor stories, plus patients, friends and family, and others touched by this disease. This special place dedicated to a shared cancer experience. By publishing these accounts of courage, endurance, strength, and even humor, we hope to share a common experiences and provide encouragement for all affected by this disease.
New stories are published frequently throughout Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (March), as well as the rest of the year. Each story puts another face to this disease. If you have been touched in some way by colon or rectal cancer, you are a face of blue.
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Thank You 
for supporting this story series in 2022.
Rodnell’s Story
Rodnell didn’t have an extensive family history of cancer. His father had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but it didn’t raise any eyebrows with his health care providers.
When a ruptured appendix in 2016 landed him in emergency surgery, however, his doctors discovered something more “shocking, surprising, and very unexpected.”
Stage IV colon cancer.
As a part of his care plan, Rodnell was offered genetic testing. The results would provide another shock to this father of two young boys. The news he carried the gene for Lynch syndrome, a hereditary gene that increased his lifetime risk of colorectal and other cancers.
Rodnell spent three years in treatment. Now in remission, he stays on top of his surveillance for the return of not only colorectal cancer, but also any of the other cancers associated with Lynch syndrome.
Share your Story
Tell us about your colorectal cancer experience or share your memories of a loved one lost to this disease.
Faces of Blue Stories
My name is Dee. Although I never had colorectal cancer, I was diagnosed with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) when I was 22 years old. I had a total colectomy IRA surgery when I…
My name is Angela. I’m 38 and I was diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer in April of 2011. You talk about angry and confused. I was so mad. I…
Your life can change in an instant…. On September 30, 2009 my life was changed forever. My 42-year-old sister Debbie Hernandez Mitchell was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. The…
Written by wife, Heather Cyr My husband, Alec Cyr, was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 33, we had just celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary. He had changes in his…
Written by friend, Laurie Kuyath Living and working with colon cancer… No, I don’t have it, my co-worker and friend does. Her name is Evelyn and she is a youthful,…
A tribute by Tonya Iovine about her mother, Valerie I couldn’t believe when my mother called me to say that she had stage four colon cancer. It was a few days…
I remember the day last summer like it was yesterday…. My sons, Noah (7 at the time) and Luke (5) and I were sitting one morning eating breakfast. Noah- sensing…
Written by mother, Shirley Mann Life was just beginning for our daughter Brittney. She had graduated from the University of Iowa in May, had begun a job in counseling at…
Written by daughter, Heather Hall Daughter of Susie Lindquist Mjelde My name is Heather Hall and I am the late Susie Lindquist Mjelde’s oldest child. I live with my husband…
Archived Stories
Survivor Stories
Colon cancer patients and survivors share personal experiences about diagnosis, surgery, treatment, side effects and the many ways that cancer has changed their lives.
Survivor StoriesIn Loving Memory
Friends and family of those lost to colon cancer share a loved one’s story with us. Keeping their memories alive.
In Loving Memory Stories