Shaken Survivor Shakes Things Up to Advocate for Awareness and Early Detection

Molly's Story: Diagnosed on her 23rd birthday, Stage II colon cancer

Molly McMaster was your typical active 22 year old; attending college, playing ice hockey, working out, having fun. Then on her 23rd birthday she was diagnosed with stage II colon cancer after being hospitalized with a total intestinal blockage. "I didn't even know there was such a thing as colon cancer," says Molly. "During my chemo treatments I just kept thinking, 'this cannot be happening.' And in terms of support, the only thing immediately available to me was the colon and prostrate group at Glen Falls Hospital, comprised of mainly older men. There just was nothing aimed at younger survivors."

So Molly went a little crazy; she knew that someone needed to tell the world that anyone at any age could get this disease. The summer following her surgery, she started with her first crazy project, Rolling to Recovery, which took her on a 2000-mile journey on inline skates from her parent's home in Glens Falls, New York, back to Colorado, where she had been going to school when her symptoms began. During her epic trip, she received hundreds of emails, including one from Amanda Sherwood Roberts of Little Rock, Arkansas. Amanda had been diagnosed with colon cancer at 24, and the two young women became immediate friends. Eventually, Amanda nominated Molly to carry the 2002 Olympic Torch. After Molly was chosen, the two women had the chance to tell their stories to Katie Couric on the "Today" show.

On December 30, 2002, Molly carried the Olympic Torch through Saratoga Springs, NY. Amanda passed away just two days later at the age of 27. Along with Amanda's cousin, Hannah Vogler, Molly decided that she needed to do something in honor of her friend. Together, they built the Colossal Colon®, a 40-foot long, 4-foot tall, crawl-through model of the human colon complete with polyps, various diseases of the colon, and the stages of colon cancer.

Then in 2003, Molly and Hananh founded The Colon Club. Its main goal is to educate as many people as possible as early as possible about colorectal cancer in interesting and out-of-the-box ways. Among many unique projects is the inspirational Colandar, an annual 12-month calendar highlighting the stories of young colon cancer survivors.

Molly, now a mother of two boys, Kyril (4) and Maks (2), continues to inspire everyone she meets. She’s a testimony to the fact that even when life knocks you sidewise, sometimes you just need to get back up and roll.