Conquering mountains for cancer

Center News

Climb symbolizes and supports the fight against breast cancer

Photo Courtesy of Dyani Bartlett Basking in the glow of their successful summit of Mount Kilimanjaro are (front row, from left) Kyle Mansfield, Sean Mansfield and Brent Jacobsen, holding prayer flags. Back row, from left: Dyani Bartlett, Marcia Kuszmaul and Susan Amondson.

In 1997, a small group of volunteers climbed Mount Adams to benefit the Hutchinson Center. It occurred to the group that summitting a mountain was symbolic of the fight against breast cancer. The climb was so successful, it was organized again the following year, and the next. The Climb to Fight Breast Cancer presented by Safeway has come a long way since these humble beginnings.

This summer, more than 100 women and men from across the United States braved the demands of six mountain peaks in the Pacific Northwest, Eastern Europe and Africa. Whether climbing for the physical challenge or as a way to honor loved ones who faced the rigors of breast cancer, each participant committed to raise funds to advance breast-cancer research at the Center. This year's total topped $629,000.

With 10 years of peak experiences combined, the Climb has raised $2.8 million for breast-cancer research at the Center.

Professional guides from Alpine Ascents International and Portland Parks & Recreation led the teams of climbers, varying in number according to the mountain. The climbers' minimum fund-raising commitment also varied, with a few outstanding climbers raising more than $20,000 apiece.

Center scientists are working to find new clues to prevent, diagnose and successfully combat breast cancer — the second most common cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Recent accomplishments include the following:

• Dr. Chris Li found that older women who have smoked the equivalent of one pack per day for at least 11 years face a 30 percent to 40 percent increased risk of developing breast cancer as compared with women who have never smoked.



• Dr. Anne McTiernan's research found that regular, moderate physical activity cuts breast-cancer risk by 20 percent; and that women with low body-mass index and high physical-activity levels had lower levels of circulating estrogens, which can fuel the growth of breast cancer.



• Dr. Stephanie Lee led the development of guidelines for physicians and patients about fertility preservation for individuals undergoing cancer treatment. The guidelines may help breast-cancer patients preserve their chances of having children after receiving chemotherapy or radiation, which can impair fertility.



• Hutchinson Center researchers played a lead role in the groundbreaking Women's Health Initiative study that revealed hormone-replacement therapy can increase a woman's risk of breast cancer, stroke and heart disease.



• Center researchers are also leading a three-year, $9 million project funded by the Entertainment Industry Foundation and its Women's Cancer Research Fund to discover proteins in the blood that may signal the presence of breast cancer at its earliest stages, when cure rates are high.

Climb in 2008

For more information or to learn about participating in the 2008 Climb to Fight Breast Cancer, visit www.fhcrc.org/climb, call the Climb Hotline at (206) 667-1398 or e-mail cfbc@fhcrc.org.

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