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I don’t know what people with other diseases do to cope, but those who’ve been affected by breast cancer — they walk. A close relative of mine is a survivor, and last weekend my wife did the San Diego Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in her honor. It ain’t no walk in the park, neither: you walk 20 miles a day for three days, camp in tents at night and there are hills a-plenty. (But hey, blisters don’t need chemo. Hence one of the 3-Day’s official rules: “no whining!”) As someone who maybe walks 60 miles in a year, I was truly humbled watching 4,500+ women (and a few valiant dudes) walk, and sometimes hobble, across the finish line, many overcome with emotion, having collectively raised $12.3 million for breast cancer research. Today I’m sharing some of my photos from the event, along with some facts about breast cancer.
• Women in the United States have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, and a 1 in 33 chance of dying from it.
• The patron saint of breast cancer is Saint Agatha of Sicily.
• William Stewart Halsted pioneered the mastectomy in 1882. His procedure, which became known as the Halsted Radical Mastectomy, was performed regularly into the 1970s.
From the great history of breast cancer, Bathsheba’s Breast:
In 1967, an Italian surgeon touring Amsterdam’s Rijks museum stopped in front of Rembrandt’s Bathsheba at Her Bath, on loan from the Louvre, and noticed an asymmetry to Bathsheba’s left breast; it seemed distended, swollen near the armpit, discolored, and marked with a distinctive pitting. With a little research, the physician learned that Rembrandt’s model, his mistress Hendrickje Stoffels, later died after a long illness, and he conjectured in a celebrated article for an Italian medical journal that the cause of her death was almost certainly breast cancer.
A horror known to every culture in every age, breast cancer has been responsible for the deaths of 25 million women throughout history. An Egyptian physician writing 3,500 years ago concluded that there was no treatment for the disease. Later surgeons recommended excising the tumor or, in extreme cases, the entire breast. This was the treatment advocated by the court physician to sixth-century Byzantine empress Theodora, the wife of Justinian, though she chose to die in pain rather than lose her breast. Only in the past few decades has treatment advanced beyond disfiguring surgery.
There was plenty of support along the way. My favorite sign, which I neglected to get a photo of, read “Stop the war in my rack!”
Once known as “nun’s disease” and widely considered a death sentence, today there are more than two million survivors of breast cancer living in the United States. Despite this good news, the number of cases of breast cancer — especially in the Western world — has been on the rise since the 1970s.
As the walk drew to a close, participants raised their worn-out shoes in a show of solidarity and respect for the survivors among them.
Comments (13)
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I am amazed at the results of the Susan Komen Foundation (and others) who have rallied so many to raise money to find the cure! I have not done this walk but I have done the March of Dimes walk (which I think started it all) and the Juvenille Diabetes walk many times. Great to see what we can do when we band together for a common cause. And best thoughts for your relative – may the cure be theirs.
posted by JaneM on 11-13-2007 at 10:32 am
This was a great (and informational) post. Thank you for the inspiration to support a good cause.
posted by wonderkim on 11-13-2007 at 10:44 am
I am so excited that you’re bringing recognition to the 3-Day. And congratulations to your wife for completing it! I did the walk in 2006 in Atlanta and it was an amazing, life-changing experience. I’ll be doing it again in Dallas/Fort Worth in 2008. It’s a wonderful event benefiting a very important cause.
posted by Karen on 11-13-2007 at 10:48 am
What a wonderful, thoughtful and informative article Randy! The photos are terrific too. What a great team our girls made!
posted by charlene grant on 11-13-2007 at 2:29 pm
I am a 36 year old survivor (just celebrated my first anniversary) and want to say Thank You Mental Floss, and contributing writer Ransom for posting these great pictures and the great information outside of the “Pink Ribbon” month of October. This is information we need to read about all year long. Self exam & early detection saves lives.
posted by Groovygaia on 11-13-2007 at 2:40 pm
What an amazing cause and what a tremendous personal achievement! I am so very proud of Alyson and of all the women who participated!
What wonderful and inspirational photos…it makes you grateful for all of the good in life and in humanity.
posted by Amy Rilling on 11-13-2007 at 2:55 pm
With four Aunties who have all had mastectomies, I am thrilled with the attenton to the cause and the monies raised by all the committed and caring walkers. I am so proud of my niece, Alyson, and her walking companion! Great photos and info!
posted by Janie Gendron on 11-13-2007 at 3:03 pm
WOW! Your photos are inspirational, its so wonderful to see so many women triumphantly supporting eachother! I’m a community ambassador for Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which is sponsoring the Million Inch Chain. Its a wonderful way for women to support others by donating their hair to women undergoing treament for cancer. If you know of anyone interested in donating or in need of wigs, please take a look at Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths website , you can google the “Million Inch Chain”,I’m sure you can find it easily! Its really wonderful way to improve the life of so many women undergoing treatment.
posted by Ashley Kale on 11-13-2007 at 3:58 pm
My mother(Alyson’s Grandmother) had a mastectomy which eventually caused her death. She would be very proud, as I am, of Alyson as well as all other participants involved in this event. It is a huge commitment. I can imagine the joy for all as they cross the finish line. Job well done Alyson!!… Once Again!!!
posted by Leon Grant on 11-14-2007 at 9:46 am
I did the walk in Atlanta about a month ago and just signed up to do it again next year. It was a great experience.
posted by Hank on 11-14-2007 at 11:58 am
I hope this reminds everyone that they have the power to make a huge difference in this world.
“I kept looking for somebody to solve the problems, and then I realized, I am somebody.”
posted by Alyson Jones on 11-14-2007 at 2:14 pm
Inspirational! It’s so amazing to these women rallying together and support each other. We really need more of that in this world. I lost my father to cancer a few years ago, so now I am trying to do whatever I can to help raise awareness towards worthy causes.
That’s why now I work with Pantene Beautiful Lengths and Million Inch Chain as a community ambassador. We are trying to gather 1 million inches of hair so we can make them into wigs to give to women affected by chemo related hair loss.
Our aim to give these women their confidence, for a lot of women it can be devastating to lose their hair. So we really need every inch of hair we can get!
If you would like more information on how you can donate, or pledge to donate your hair please don’t hesitate to visit this website beautifullengths.com/en_US/million_inch/million_inch_qa.jsp
posted by Hayden on 11-14-2007 at 8:26 pm
The most frightening words imaginable for any woman are those when she is told that she has breast cancer. The morbid thoughts run through her head and the fear is overwhelming. Now she must endure medical treatments and examinations for several months as begins her battle against this disease.
posted by Grace on 12-2-2007 at 9:26 pm