WoMMen Trekking Peru Starts Today

Today, the eight myeloma physicians set out on their adventure to hike Peru! As highlighted in our Taking Myeloma Research to New Heights in Peru article, these women are using this opportunity to raise money for myeloma research. 

Read more about their excursion and how to donate to the cause below. 

Why Peru? 

When asked why the women chose to hike Peru, Dr. Tanya Wildes shared: 

"Taking time away from our clinical responsibilities is always a challenge. We wanted a trip that we could make in about 10-11 days to minimize the number of days of clinic we would each have to cancel," she says.

"So, we triangulated the distance & travel times to the destination, the adventures offered by Embark Exploration Co, and an experience that would be a significant challenge. Peru checked all the boxes!"

What Myeloma Research Does My Donation Support? 

Dr. Urvi Shah, one of the women participating in this adventure, has several active studies on modifiable risk factors (such as nutrition, physical activity, body composition, diabetes, and the microbiome) and their relationship with myeloma/cancer progression, treatment, and survivorship.  

She has partnered with HealthTree in one of those trials called NUTRIVENTION, a decentralized trial that allows patients across the United States to enroll. Learn more here: NUTRIVENTION Study with Dr. Shah

Your donation to the HealthTree Foundation can help fund this study and others like it that can pave the way for multiple myeloma patients to have better lives. 

Donate Today

What Connections Exist Between Climbing and Facing Myeloma? 

“Climbing really is an amazing, rich metaphor for the myeloma journey,” Dr. Wildes explains, “There’s the aspect of the unknown. None of us have ever been to altitudes over 14,000 ft (outside of an airplane!). 

As myeloma doctors, we try to prepare our patients for each new segment of the journey, just like our guides in Peru will try to prepare us; but even so, we will each undertake that day’s climb, facing a challenge we’ve never faced before, and we will each have to take every step. But we won’t be doing it alone, just like our patients are never alone!”

The Itinerary 

This nine-day excursion includes immersion into Peruvian culture as the women climb literal mountains, including Macchu Picchu. The main portion of the hike includes the Ausangate Trek, which will last five days. 

Words of Encouragement for Myeloma Patients 

Dr. Wildes believes that we will see a multiple myeloma cure in her career, so she is passionate about raising funds to accelerate myeloma research. 

“I believe we will see a cure for myeloma in my career span,” she boldly claims, “I don’t say this lightly - I am a very conservative clinician, meaning that I am not quick to assume that exciting advances will translate into better, longer lives for our patients and I want to see very solid research results before I change my practice and recommendations.”

She recollects when the standard of care changed in 2011 to prescribing doublets instead of single agents in treatment. 

“I distinctly remember thinking, ‘Why would I prescribe lenalidomide and bortezomib AT THE SAME TIME? What would I have left to treat a patient with next?  Fast forward 13 years and numerous new treatment options, these two drugs are just half of our standard quadruplets for first-line therapy! All these advances translate into HOPE.”

Be a Cure Contributor, Donate Now 

You can add to the hope of a myeloma cure by donating to the HealthTree Foundation. With your donation, we can significantly advance research towards multiple myeloma and other blood cancer cures. 

100% of your donation helps fund research or investigator research projects.
 

Donate Today

Sources: 

• Dr. Shah & HealthTree NUTRIVENTION Study Information