Sara McLean

Story: "I kept notifying my family doctor that I had blood in the toilet coming from bowels as if I was on my period. He stated it was hemorrhoids. For years this was happening, so I finally went to a specialist to remove the hemorrhoids with bands. The specialist said the blood is not normal. He recommended colonoscopy. I was approved to have it done and found out from results I was stage IIIb at age 42. I was scared. I had surgery for a temporary ileostomy, which was an adjustment. After a year of treatment, I am cancer free."

Advice: "If you know something isn't normal, get a second opinion. Don't give up the fight; don't be scared to ask for help."