July 9, 2007
Hiking for Health
Cancer patient and doctor hike New York's highest peak together to support research
POUND RIDGE, N.Y. — One year ago, Mike Tedesco was too weak from cancer treatment to walk around a football field. Now, after chemotherapy and a successful stem cell transplant, he is training to climb New York's highest peak.
Tedesco, an avid athlete and personal trainer, was diagnosed in 2004 with an incurable form of blood cancer called multiple myeloma. Roughly 50,000 people in the United States are currently living with the disease.
While undergoing treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Tedesco decided to do something for himself and others facing this disease. He told his doctor, Nikhil Munshi, M.D., that when he was stronger he was going to organize Mike's Hike for Multiple Myeloma to help Munshi find new cures and treatments for the disease.
"What Mike is doing is unique. He is making a real effort to mobilize people and educate them about the disease," said Munshi. "I knew immediately I wanted to be part of it, and told Mike I would hike with him when he was feeling better."
"I think it is fantastic to have my doctor participate in the hike, as well as raise money for his own research," said Tedesco. "It shows how dedicated Dr. Munshi is to his science and his patients. He is willing to step forward and not just talk the talk, but walk the walk, literally!" Munshi's 20-year-old son Vidit, a Boston University student will also be hiking.
The stem cell transplant Tedesco received last summer eliminated 96 percent of his cancer. Munshi said Tedesco's life expectancy increased from three to six years with the successful procedure. To maintain his health, Tedesco takes seven pills a day to help the myeloma stay in remission. On average, following this type of treatment, multiple myeloma patients stay in remission for four years.
With this positive outlook, Tedesco recruited thirty hikers to climb Mt. Marcy for Mike's Hike for Multiple Myeloma, which will be held on August 25. Mt. Marcy is the highest peak in the Adirondack Mountains at 5800 feet. The hike will go along the Van Hoevenberg Trail, which is 14 miles from the base to the summit and back, and will take hikers about 12 hours to complete. Each hiker has made a commitment to raise a minimum of $3,000. In addition, Tedesco has received several corporate sponsorships to bring the total raised to date to $100,000 for Munshi's research.
With government funding decreasing for cancer research and care, independent fundraisers are critical to researchers and doctors. "We hope to find newer drugs and treatments that will kill myeloma cells," said Munshi. "We also hope to find a vaccine for the disease to prevent its progression and to educate the body's immune system to fight the cancer."
Researchers at Dana-Farber have conducted numerous clinical trials into new treatments for multiple myeloma and recently found that a combination of the two new drugs Velcade® (bortezomib) and Revlimid® (lenalidomide) work better together than individually. "The impact of these new therapies is dramatically improving the outlook for multiple myeloma patients with this otherwise life- threatening disease," said Munshi. These drugs are now approved for treatment in more than 80 countries.
Tedesco's hope is that his hike will advance research for multiple myeloma patients and their families even if it is one step at a time. When not training for his hike, Tedesco is training others as the owner of Body Fit Personal Training in Cross River. His clients are of all activity levels, including Martha Stewart who is one of Mike's supporters. For more information on Mike's Hike for Multiple Myeloma or to make a donation, email Lauren Nash at Lauren_nash@dfci.harvard.edu or call (617) 632-3863.
Contact
Elizabeth Chernack
Dana-Farber
(617) 632-4687
elizabeth_chernack@dfci.harvard.edu
