Nearly two months after announcing she was switching gears with her career, beloved San Antonio TV personality and “Goodtaste for the Soul” podcast host Tanji Patton has revealed that she has been diagnosed with cancer.
“A few weeks ago, I learned that I have a malignant breast tumor,” she wrote in a July 5 social media post. “Many of you have walked this road, so you know the unbelievable rush of emotions that immediately begin swirling through your mind — and yes, the fear.”
Patton said her faith has anchored her throughout her cancer journey. In the post, she recalled an encounter with an MRI nurse named Gucci at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, who helped connect her headset to her church’s livestreamed service before a scan. The experience, she said, inspired her to publicly share her diagnosis.
“Before today, I wasn’t sure I wanted to share this journey publicly. But I was so profoundly moved by Gucci’s kindness — and by God’s unmistakable presence in that moment — that I felt compelled to tell this story,” Patton wrote. “One thing I’m learning as I walk this unexpected road is that there’s a difference between being nice and being kind.”
She added that while she believes much of the modern world has settled for superficial connections through a computer screen, “it’s easy to forget how much it matters to truly show up for one another.” Patton said that while the future is still unfolding, she knows her faith will help her stay strong through her ordeal.
“I am not walking it alone thanks to my incredible Savior Jesus Christ,” she wrote. “Oh, and yes, I plan to continue working on Goodtaste for the Soul as this will be a blip on the radar screen soon… God’s got my back. 😃”
Patton, who served as an anchor and investigative reporter for News 4 WOAI from 1991 to 2007, worked hard to carve out her own path within the Alamo City’s media scene by successfully launching her food and wine show, “Goodtaste with Tanji.” In May, she announced that although the show would end after 11 seasons, she would make her faith-based “Goodtaste for the Soul” podcast her primary focus.