In the fight against cancer, doctors and patients are winning more and more often when it comes to colon cancer.

One local man's battle with colon cancer is an inspiration to get tested - and get involved

No matter how much we hear about it, not everyone feels comfortable getting a colonoscopy or mammogram to screen for cancer.

63-year-old Denis Wiedenhoeft has been beating back cancer for nine years.

His daughter Laura continues to be amazed at his ability to defy the odds.

Laura says, "He thought this was coming to the end, he was going to enjoy what he could and from there he has beaten everything that has come to him.”

Surgery and chemo for colon cancer, in 1997, worked.

But a few years later, it spread to his liver.

And after that... his lungs.

In 2003, Denis was given only 6 months to live.

Denis says, "You go through the treatments that they give you hoping they will work and continue to fight."

But recently, during this colon cancer awareness month, Denis started losing that fight.

The family now has hospice care at their home in Jefferson twice a week.

Laura says, "They've told us over and over again that this could be happening in 6 months, a year, and 6 months to a year come and go and he's still there."

That ability to fight is something very familiar to UW Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher Dr. Kyle Holen.

Dr. Holen says, "When I see cancer survivors in my clinic, they have so much energy and they are so excited about trying to move the field forward and be involved in clinical trials."

And it shows.

The incidence of colon cancer has taken a slight fall because more people are getting screened.

"I think it has to do with more awareness about colonoscopies the fact that as more people do it they tell their friends it wasn't so bad and they found a polyp and it could have saved my life..."

Colonoscopy picks up problems before they become cancer.

And the treatments are improving every year.

Dr. Holen says, "Some of these new treatments are antibodies which fight the cancer but leave the rest of the body relatively spared."

While Laura's dad won't benefit from future treatments - her mission is to see that others do.

She recently opened a local chapter of the colon cancer alliance - called "Voices of Madison."

"I don't want to have other young people have to go through this ... my friends, my family even strangers have to deal with it. Colon cancer is preventable."

There is an upcoming cancer run/walk on April 14th - in honor of NBC 15's Mike McKinney who lost his battle with colon cancer last summer.

Ride for a Reason
Saturday, March 24
Princeton Club East and West

It's just $10 to reserve a bike and all for a good cause.