Colon Cancer Alliance

Voices of Madison

Coordinator:
Laura Wiedenhoeft

Contact Information:
lwiedenhoeft@ccalliance.org

Chapter webpage

Links to pictures

About Me:
This Chapter was started in honor of Denis G. Wiedenhoeft, and continues in his memory. My dad was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in October 1997. I was 18 at the time and very naive to the world of cancer. I remember feeling so scared and alone. No other family that I knew had cancer. None of my friends’ family members had cancer. Even though it was not my diagnosis, it forever changed my life.

After three rounds of chemo and radiation in addition to having the majority of his colon removed, my dad was given a good bill of health…he was in remission! Then, in 2000 the cancer came back in his liver. Another surgery and another three years of good health! That is, until yet another diagnosis in January 2003. This time the cancer had moved into both lungs. He was given 6 months to one year to live.

My dad fought hard, harder than I ever could have. He had an outlook on life that I strive to have. He had so much faith and so much support from family and friends. He beat those six months, he beat that year, he beat two and three years before the illness really started to take a toll on his health. He tried chemo. It was the hardest chemo treatments I had seen him go through. For the first time, the realization that my dad may not beat it this time really started to sink in. I always had the fear, but this was knowledge I never wanted to gain. On

April 22, 2007, my dad passed away. He fought all the way to the end and left us only when he was ready…which was way too soon for him and for us! From the time he started weakening in the battle to even now, I wish upon anything I could have helped fight the cancer within him. I began this chapter in his honor and continue in his memory to fight the cancer the only way I know how--by becoming an advocate.

Colon cancer is PREVENTABLE! Unfortunately it is too late for some of us to tell all our loved ones this, but there are still a lot of loved ones out there who don’t know. If you would like to join me and the other volunteers of Voices of Madison try to spread this message and raise awareness, please contact me, Laura Wiedenhoeft! - Laura Wiedenhoeft, Coordinator of Voices of Madison

Events:
Please contact Laura if you would like to join the Voices of Madison Chapter or learn more about future events.

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