March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, a time to raise awareness about the second leading cause of cancer death in America and to highlight the importance of early detection and screening.
For 69-year-old Cooperstown resident Dan Fiebiger, that message is deeply personal.
On June 17, Dan experienced abdominal pain so severe it caused him to pass out. The next day, he went to the emergency department at Jamestown Regional Medical Center (JRMC). The team identified an obstruction in his bowels and admitted him for further care. After several days of inpatient care, Dan’s condition stabilized and he had a colonoscopy at JRMC.
The results revealed a life-changing diagnosis — stage IV colorectal cancer.
“When they told me it was stage four, that hit me. My girlfriend said my face just dropped,” he said. “But that feeling didn’t last long. I decided quickly that I was going to fight it.”
PET and CAT scans revealed the cancer had spread to both Dan’s colon and liver. After meeting with his oncologist, Dr. Jeffrey Wiisanen, Dan began his first round of chemotherapy the next day.
Dan received his initial infusion at Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo, but continued treatments closer to home at JRMC’s Cancer Center. Receiving care locally, including meeting with Dr. Wiisanen, made a meaningful difference.
“In the winter especially, that matters,” Dan said. “Sixty miles to travel is a lot better than an hour and a half in bad conditions.”
The JRMC Cancer Center was significant to Dan for more than simply proximity. The team provided supportive and personalized care that showed Dan he had a team behind him, cheering for his success.
“The staff — Tawnya, Caitlin, Garrett, Laura — they were incredible,” he said. “They treat you like family and really cared about me as a person.”
Through treatment, Dan remained determined, maintaining a positive mindset and focusing on progress. One moment stood out: watching his body heal as his cancer markers dropped from 31 to 1.4.
“That’s the moment I knew things were really turning around,” said Dan.
On December 24, 2025, about six months after beginning treatment, Dan underwent surgery to remove approximately one-third of his liver and a foot of his colon. Post-surgical scans confirmed the procedure successfully removed the remaining cancer from his body.
Dan credits much of his strength to the support team that stayed by his side.
“My hometown, customers, friends — people were reaching out all the time,” Dan said. “My girlfriend Diane was a champion, and my brother Russ, too. That support helped a lot and made me want to fight even harder.”
On March 18, exactly nine months after the emergency visit that changed everything, Dan completed his final round of treatment. When he rang the bell in the JRMC Cancer Center to mark his victory, he considered his healing journey.
“You don’t really think about cancer until it affects you. Once it does, it changes how you see things,” he said. “It definitely changed me.”
At home, he continues to carry that milestone with him. Dan keeps a small bell — a gift from his girlfriend — by his kitchen sink and rings it each day as a reminder of what he overcame.
Now a colorectal cancer survivor, Dan sees how valuable preventative care is. He encourages others to get screenings, especially their colonoscopy, and wants to help remove the stigma surrounding this test.
“A colonoscopy sounds scary, but it’s really not,” Dan said. “By the time it was done, I didn’t even realize it had happened. It’s nothing compared to cancer — people should get it done.”
Today, Dan’s goal is simple: to stay healthy and keep the cancer away. While he will continue regular follow-ups at the JRMC Cancer Center, he looks forward to returning to life after cancer.
People are encouraged to schedule their screenings starting at age 45 — to schedule a colonoscopy at JRMC, contact your primary provider.