Summiting the highest mountain in Africa and then cancer
Why climb 19,341-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro, and without supplemental oxygen at that, to raise money for research? When Sen Sundaram climbed the mountain in 2019, he shared three reasons with his friends and family. Eighteen months later, those reasons became personal.
First, Sundaram had taken up hiking as a way to unwind and recharge from a high-pressure career in biotech, and the highest peak in Africa was on his bucket list.
Secondly, as he wrote in an email asking for support, he was participating in Fred Hutch’s Climb to Fight Cancer to “honor those who have been touched by cancer, those who have advanced cancer treatments so remarkably over the last 20 years, and those who are working hard on innovations to eliminate cancers in the coming years.”
His third reason? Though he didn’t have cancer himself, Sundaram wanted to encourage individuals in his industry who have faced the disease to feel comfortable letting others know. He wrote, “Ironically, many are reluctant to share their experiences for fear of the stigma that it may carry. I hope more events like these will encourage us all to celebrate these victories.”
On July 25, 2019, every member of Team Kilimanjaro reached the summit after five days of trekking through several time zones, villages and a rain forest with 20-foot-tall fern trees. The team ascended thousands of vertical feet to the crater’s rim and a panorama view of the East African plains. It was Sundaram’s 41st birthday.
Then, in late December 2020, after experiencing bouts of abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Surgery to remove the cancerous cells was aborted when his surgeon discovered the cancer had spread, or metastasized, from its initial site.
Colorectal cancer, when detected and treated early, is often curable; the five-year survival rate for localized colorectal cancer is 90%. Metastatic colon cancers are treatable but not yet curable. Screening, either via colonoscopy, FIT kit or other means, is an important tool in catching early-stage colorectal cancers as these cancers can be asymptomatic.
True to his own beliefs, Sundaram, who is the CEO of Terns Pharmaceuticals, shared his news publicly with his company and online. He also shared his concern for the "alarming increase" in colon cancers in people under the age of 50, one reason the American Cancer Society recently lowered its recommended screening age for average-risk people to 45.
From one life-changing journey to another
Fred Hutch’s Climb to Fight Cancer is a unique way for people to combine mountain climbing with their desire to support cancer research.
For nearly 25 years, climbers like Sundaram from around the U.S. have summited some of the world’s highest peaks, from Denali to Mt. Rainier (or Tahoma, as originally named by the Puyallup Tribe), and raised more than $11 million for cancer research.
Sundaram personally raised more than $50,000. Altogether, his team of 27 biotech executives, investors and researchers — who were brought together by biotech journalist Luke Timmerman — raised $1.5 million.
“The climb was a life-changing experience,” Sundaram said. “I met so many amazing people and learned so much.”
Those lessons, it turned out, applied to his experience as a cancer patient as well.
Lesson one: Once-in-a-lifetime challenges call for support. “It was a realistic goal to make it to the top [of Kilimanjaro], but not a slam dunk,” Sundaram said. “I probably underestimated how challenging it was going to be and that’s where having a great team and leader to get me there safely was really helpful. The experience highlighted that we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone needs it at some point.”
That’s just as true for cancer, said Sundaram. “The best way to increase your support network is to let people know.”
Lesson two: Take it one step at a time. Local guides counseled Sundaram and other climbers to go “polepole,” which means “slowly, slowly” in Swahili, advice that also applies to going through cancer.
“When I first got diagnosed, it was like drinking from a firehose,” Sundaram said. “There was so much information and fear of the unknown, fear of not knowing the journey or the destination.” It helped to remember to take it one step at a time, he said.
Lesson three: Enjoy the journey. On the mountain, Sundaram and his fellow climbers learned to enjoy “everything from building the relationships to enjoying the hike and the scenery, both the way up and the way down,” he said.
When it comes to cancer, Sundaram is also focused on appreciating the moment.
“The standard of care for my type of cancer is long-term maintenance chemotherapy. There isn’t necessary a fixed destination,” he said. “I’m fitting chemotherapy into my existing life, enjoying my quality of life while also extending life. Fortunately, right now I’m feeling fine.”
Sundaram continues to encourage others to participate in the Climb to Fight Cancer and to shine a spotlight on Fred Hutch to support the search for cures. He recently helped a friend achieve his fundraising goal for Climb to Fight Cancer’s Everest Base Camp trip by offering a buzzcut challenge. Sundaram had gotten a buzzcut in anticipation of chemotherapy-induced hair loss, and he matched donations from anyone who followed suit.
He knows how high the stakes are — for him and everyone else with a similar diagnosis.
“There’s a huge unmet need for novel colon cancer therapeutics,” he said. “My hope is we can see newer modalities like immunotherapies adapted for colon and gastric cancers.”
That is exactly what he hopes will come from the research he supports.
— By Lesley Reed
You, too, can climb with us and support leading-edge research at Fred Hutch. Climb to Fight Cancer caters to adventurers of all abilities. Whether you are an avid mountaineer or a first-time climber, we will support you every step of the way. With a variety of domestic and international locations to choose from, there is a mountain for everyone.
