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TV news anchor dies at age 53 after cancer battle- as her heartbreaking final post is revealed
A former TV news anchor died at the age of 53 after her battle with cancer.
Tanya Sumner, also known as Tanya Spencer, died at her home on Friday from an aggressive form of cancer that started in her colon.
Sumner was a news anchor for Indianapolis's WRTV for 10 years and was in television journalism for 20 years.
In a heartbreaking final Facebook post to her friends, Sumner said: 'Time. Good health. Those are our only true commodities. Our only true currencies that matter.'
The married mother of one discovered that she had a rare, genetically-mutated aggressive form of colon cancer, known as Kras G12c mutation, during an emergency surgery on November 17, 2022.
Tanya Sumner, 53, died on Friday after an aggressive battle with a rare, genetically-mutated form of colon cancer
According to a GoFundMe page created for Sumner on behalf of her two best friends, Julia Kathary and Jody Chiarotti, her cancer metastasized to her abdominal lining and eventually spread to her organs.
Despite various chemotherapy treatments, the cancer persisted and eventually 'grew into a network of nodule tumors' that then 'wrapped around her internal organs' before spreading to her liver and lungs.
In 2023, Sumner sat down and spoke about her diagnosis on WRTV and explained that in September of that year, a new round of chemotherapy also wasn't effective in fighting her cancer.
'Faith in God- If I'm going to be healed, it's gonna be God who heals me,' Sumner said during the interview.
She previously encouraged others to make sure they schedule routine colonoscopies after she held off on getting one herself.
Sumner was a news anchor for the Indianapolis station for 10 years and was in television journalism for 20 years. (pictured: WRTV anchor Rafael Sánchez alongside Sumner)
In 2023, Sumner sat down and spoke about her diagnosis on WRTV and explained that in September of that year, a new round of chemotherapy also wasn't effective in fighting her cancer
'If you could imagine me finding this grapefruit-sized tumor six years earlier, like, we'd be having a whole different conversation,' Sumner said.
'Yeah, it's uncomfortable, it's unpleasant, nobody wants a colonoscopy, but go get the thing! It's not that bad,' she added, stating that if she had gotten the procedure earlier, she might have had more time.
In 2021, the CDC announced new guidelines that called for adults to start getting colonoscopy screenings at age 45 instead of 50.
Throughout her cancer battle, Sumner was supported by Kathary and Chiarotti, who met the late journalist in Evansville, Indianapolis nearly 30 years ago.
'I took Tanya to the doctor's office and told them we them are not leaving until they started something. We are fire breathing dragons,' Kathary told WRTV in November.
Sumner referred to her best friends as her 'advocates' that 'lifted her up.'
On the GoFundMe page, Kathary explained how Sumner's chemo treatments and medications were becoming costly, as one of the drugs was about $233,000 for a year's worth of treatment.
She previously encouraged others to make sure that they schedule routine colonoscopies after she held off on getting one herself
Throughout her cancer battle, Sumner (middle) has been supported by Julia Kathary (right) and Jody Chiarotti (left), who met the late journalist in Evansville, Indianapolis nearly 30 years ago
'We are tapping into all our networks, filling out every drug grant we can find, pushing and tugging with the insurance provider, looking for clinical trials and medical breakthroughs, and asking you, Tanya's friends, family, colleagues, and community for help,' Kathary wrote.
As of Saturday evening, the page has raised more than $17,000.
'The past year has been a battle and Tanya has quietly waged war not wanting to alarm you, her friends and family. But it's time we rally for Tanya,' Kathary added.
Following her time as an anchor, Sumner pursued a career in politics as the council vice president of District 3 in Whitestown, about 30 minutes outside of Indianapolis.
After news of her tragic death was shared, former colleagues, family, friends, and fans paid tribute to her on social media.
'Sad to hear about the passing of Tanya Sumners (Spencer) who was one of my favorite reporters from WRTV 6,' Indianapolis resident, Michael Pruitt, said.
'She was fighting it with all she had and never gave up hope. God Speed Tanya,' he added.
The town of Zionsville, just outside of Whitesville, also posted about Sumner's passing.
Following her time as an anchor, Sumner pursued a career in politics as the council vice president of District 3 in Whitestown
On her LinkedIn page, Sumner described herself as a 'storyteller at heart' who enjoyed finding stories that 'connected with people emotionally'
'Tanya was a true public servant, a wife, and mother, she will be missed by all. Both Whitestown and Zionsville are better because of her efforts,' the town said.
A friend, Rhanda Stewart-Carlile said: 'She taught me that there was absolutely no talking in the morning before coffee.'
'She was sharp as a tack, the easiest news anchor to watch, and she was one of many who took me under their wing when I first moved to Evansville to work for WFIE.'
Sumner's niece, Chey Smith, posted pictures of her on Facebook and said: 'Fly high auntie. Till we meet again.'
On her LinkedIn page, Sumner described herself as a 'storyteller at heart' who enjoyed finding stories that 'connected with people emotionally.'