OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - An Overland Park mom's public fight with colon cancer ends in her death.
Shawndra Turner was only 30 years old when she was diagnosed with colon cancer.
Most people are diagnosed in their 50's.
Shawndra shared her story on NBC Action News two years ago in March during colon cancer awareness month.
She was diagnosed two years after she was married to the love of her life, Doug Turner.
Her daughter, Ella, was only 1 year old when Shawndra got the bad news.
She admitted she was shocked and began her treatment. But she was also driven to warn people about colon cancer.
Shawndra started a blog detailing her illness and how it was affecting her life as well as informing people about the signs and symptoms of colon cancer and encouraging people to get a colonoscopy if they have any of those signs.
Her blog can be found on www.shawndraturner.blogspot.com.
Colon cancer is the number two cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S.
In most cases the cancer begins in the form of a polyp. Doctors can find a remove those polyps using a procedure called a colonoscopy.
Rectal bleeding, cramping and stomach pain, weakness and a change in bowel are some of the signs that you may have colon cancer.
The American Cancer Society explains each symptom in detail on their Web site www.cancer.org.
If you experience any of those symptoms you should contact your doctor right away and get a colonoscopy.
Shawndra died Sunday, March 15. Now, her friends, like Lorna T. Taylor are continuing Shawndra's fight against colon cancer.
"Shawndra is educating even now thorugh her blog, through her many, many words of encouragement that she spoke to people and e-mailed people and continues to share and I know that's her legacy," Taylor said.
