When people see me they see Allison -- a goofy, outgoing, big-hearted friend, sister and daughter. Not a cancer patient. And that's what I want. I won't allow my past -- my cancer -- to define me.

For the past three years, I have suffered through many health issues related to colorectal cancer. I'm alive today thanks to my radiation and chemotherapy treatment as well as a surgical colectomy received at MD Anderson. I...