Not My Breasts

Frogs and funding for cancer research: connecting the dots

Yesterday’s New York Times front-page story lamented that funding for cancer research is too timid and, therefore, not likely to lead to significant scientific breakthroughs.

A few pages later, op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote about how exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals used in agriculture, industry and consumer products, are linked to alarming health problems, including cancer.

It was thrilling to see both of these important topics—topics we at the Breast Cancer Fund talk about every day—covered in one day's paper. But the pages separating the stories only served to remind me of the disconnect between mainstream cancer research and the growing scientific evidence of the environmental causes of breast cancer.

As Kristof points out, endocrine disruptors have been linked to early puberty (a risk factor for later-life breast cancer), as well as to cancer itself. He quotes the recent Endocrine Society report that states that “endocrine disruptors have effects on male and female reproduction, breast development and cancer,” among other health effects. (Read about our take on the The Endocrine Society report in our blog post.) Yet, back on page 1, there is no mention whatsoever of funding research into the environmental causes of cancer. It’s all about research into personal habits, detection and cure.

When no more than 1 in 10 women with breast cancer has a genetic history of the disease, it’s clear that we urgently need more investigation into its environmental causes. Let’s connect the dots: the Times’ call for bolder cancer research and its call for more attention to endocrine disruptors should be one and the same.

A climber's perspective: Down from the mountain

On Wednesday, climber Jennifer Wilson summited Mt. Shasta with the Breast Cancer Fund's 2009 Climb Against the Odds team. She was exhausted last night when she returned to the town of Mt. Shasta, but rallied this morning to write her reflections on the climb. Plus we have photos!

What an amazing event! I'm now off the mountain, clean (yay!) and rested, and can just begin to look back on our journey to and up Mount Shasta. It's thrilling to have been a part of this event. I've met such wonderful people, and I truly hope I  have raised awareness among others of the many young  healthy people without family history who are getting  breast cancer and the importance of investigating the preventative causes of cancer.

The mountain was amazing. Base camp at Hidden Valley was spread out over a rocky outcropping overlooking the valley and town below with many mountain ranges in the distance. As we started our ascent in the wee hours, the new moon allowed the stars to be especially brilliant. As the sun started to rise, we had a beautiful view of the shadow of the mountain on the valley. Somehow, we were fortunate for the entire climb to have perfect weather.

The climb was not all easy though. Forty mph sustained winds at the top of the West Face made it nearly impossible to keep from being blown around. I can't give enough credit to the Shasta Mountain Guide on my rope team, Dane Brinkley, who told us we needed to push through it and even reeled me in closer to him to make it easier for me. He and our other East Coast team guide, Ben Adkison, were the best coaches, gourmet chefs and friends we could have asked for. Dane's mother is a three-year breast cancer survivor. Chris Carr, co-owner of Shasta Mountain Guides, also deserves huge credit for helping one of my teammates move on during a difficult time to eventually summit.

Amazingly, I feel pretty good physically, although I will need to google a few muscles that are sore that I can't even identify! I also have learned a cheaper way than Botox to get plump lips: just don't put sunscreen on your lips every single break when going up a 14'er!

There's so much more I could say, but I want to make sure I have time to express appreciation to the many people who are involved in making this event such a success. Thanks to all the guides, the Shasta community and businesses, the Breast Cancer fund staff, all the supporters and contributors to all the climbers (with a huge hug to all of mine!), and the wonderful climbers this year, with a special thanks to the summiting East Coast team of survivors and strivers: Deb, Amy, Megan, Jess and Victoria, and our special training leader Beth Krusi.

The team heads home tomorrow after an exceptional week. We'll have more photos to share in the coming weeks, so check back on the blog.

Photos from the return

These pictures can say far more than I about the elation at the Bunny Flat trailhead at noon today. Congratulations climbers! What an amazing journey.  
 

Back at base camp

We just heard that all the climbers are safe and sound, back at base camp. Hooray! What a fabulous day for the Climb Against the Odds 2009 team.

On the way down

The report from base camp is that everyone is headed back to camp after reaching their personal summits. That includes the three climbers whose final altitudes hadn't yet been confirmed. Here's the full team roster with summits, updated:

Keira Armstrong - Summited
Gil Arriaga - Summited
Wendy Aten - Reached 12,800 feet, the top of the West Face
Diane Ball - Summited
Jessica Nicole Barton - Summited
Amy Boyce - Summited  
Kim Brannock - Summited  
Debra Cole - Summited  
Alice Dunning - Reached 12,300 feet
Pamela Erwin - Summited
Steven Heird - Summited
Lee Ann Holt - Reached 12,800 feet, the top of the West Face
Gary Howell - Summited                          
Amy Legate McAbee - Summited          
Laura Lifland - Summited
Marcella Macartney - Reached 12,400 feet
Victoria Molinaro - Summited
Linda Morton - Summited
Abby Orellana - Summited
Amy Paradis - Summited
Julie Quillin - Reached 10,500 feet
Kathi Salley Randall - Reached 13,400 feet, just below Misery Hill
Megan Shrestha - Summited
Tobi Stone - Summited
Cathy Ann Taylor - Summited
Susan Unger - Reached 12,800 feet, the top of the West Face
Jennifer Wilson - Summited
Anne Wood - Summited

Climb coordinator Connie George reports that the winds on the West Face were fierce today, nearly blowing climbers off their feet. Misery Hill is usually the windy spot on this route, but today the West Face really challenged the team.

The team should sleep well tonight at Hidden Valley base camp -- they've earned a good rest! Tonight friends and family in Shasta are invited to join us for a celebratory sign-making party at Shasta Mountain Resort, and tomorrow we'll cheer the team off the mountain at around noon.

Twenty on the summit!

Big update from base camp! We have confirmation that 20 climbers reached the summit of Mt. Shasta today at 14,162 feet. Five climbers reached personal summits at other points on the mountain, and we're still awaiting confirmation on what altitude the three other climbers reached. We'll have updates on them very soon.

Here's the complete list of climbers, in alphabetical order:

Keira Armstrong - Summited
Gil Arriaga - Summited
Wendy Aten - Reached 12,800 feet
Diane Ball - Summited
Jessica Nicole Barton - Summited
Amy Boyce - Summited   
Kim Brannock - Summited   
Debra Cole - Summited   
Alice Dunning - Reached 12,300 feet
Pamela Erwin - Summited
Steven Heird - Summited
Lee Ann Holt - Awaiting word on Lee Ann's personal summit
Gary Howell - Summited                           
Amy Legate McAbee - Summited           
Laura Lifland - Summited
Marcella Macartney - Reached 12,400 feet
Victoria Molinaro - Summited
Linda Morton - Summited
Abby Orellana - Summited
Amy Paradis - Summited
Julie Quillin - Reached 10,500 feet
Kathi Salley Randall - Awaiting word on Kathi's personal summit
Megan Shrestha - Summited
Tobi Stone - Summited
Cathy Ann Taylor - Awaiting word on Cathy Ann's personal summit
Susan Unger - Reached crest of West Face at 12,800 feet
Jennifer Wilson - Summited
Anne Wood - Summited

Everyone is on their way back to base camp at Hidden Valley, where they'll spend tonight. Lots of good glissading happening right now!

Summit cutoff time extended

Though normally the guides want all climbers off the summit by noon (to keep them out of weather trouble and to ensure that everyone gets back to base camp by a reasonable hour), conditions are so optimal today that the cutoff time has been extended.

The weather is clear and the snow is exceptional, which means climbers will be able to glissade much of the way down. Glissading is not only a huge time- and energy-saver, it's also a lot of fun.

So for those following along at home, that means that summit news will be forthcoming, even though it's now 12:40.

One more team crests the West Face

We just got confirmation that a second rope team has passed over the crest of the West Face, and the other rope teams are clustered just below the crest, poised to reach it within approximately half an hour from now.

The West Face crest is followed by a plateau area, leading up to Misery Hill. From Misery Hill they'll cross the Summit Plateau before reaching the Summit Pinnacle.

We now know that the Northwest team was the first rope team to make the crest, followed about half an hour later by the East Coast team. Because individuals sometimes switch rope teams on the way up the mountain, we can't say for sure where individual climbers are on the mountain. The guides will report individuals as they reach the summit, and we'll post that news as it comes in.

Cresting the West Face

The first team has crested the West Face of Mt. Shasta at 12,700 feet and disappeared from view, according to staff at base camp. The other teams aren't far behind, still snaking their way up to the crest. At this point they've spent more than six hours creeping up the West Face slope in their rope teams.

After cresting, teams will cross a plateau to their next big push: Misery Hill.

They're making great time under clear skies. Base campers will be in radio contact with teams as they each pass out of sight, and we'll have more reports over the next few hours. We expect all teams to be off the summit by noon.

Life at 11,500 feet

7 a.m.: The base camp team reports that, using binoculars, they can see the climbers hovering at around 11,500 feet, preparing for the next portion of the ascent. Conditions are perfect: clear skies and firm snow.

In the earliest of hours this morning, the team awoke and prepared for the ascent. Under a star-soaked sky, the first of the five rope teams left camp at 2:40 a.m.; the last at 3:25 a.m. Those at base camp watched the team as they began their ascent—their headlamps bobbing like fireflies.

Last night was full of anticipation, emotion and beauty. Den mother and base camper Connie George reports that the dark new-moon sky allowed them to see the Milky Way in sharp relief, and that a brilliant shooting star came so close it felt like it hit Dr. Sean’s tent! Magical! Teams held prayer flag ceremonies to set their intentions for the climb, and everyone turned in to their tents early to get some much-needed sleep—or, if the stomach butterflies wouldn’t allow sleep, then just some much-needed rest!

Stay tuned for news of Misery Hill, the 14,162-ft. summit and descents. Go climbers!