I Sat My Son Down to Discuss What Would Happen When I Die: A Mom’s Battle With Colon Cancer

Vanessa Ghigliotty was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer when she was just 28 years old. For Vanessa, breaking the news to her then 11-year old son was one of her most difficult moments. “My son’s childhood died that day,” Vanessa says. “No matter how sick I got, I had to be strong and positive.” Now 16 years later, Vanessa is an advocate for colon cancer awareness and has watched her son graduate high school and college. Her message is a wake up call: colon cancer can happen to anyone.