Cancer Battle Gets High Priority

S trapless. Wanda Cobb’s fashion statement said it all on Sunday during a party for High Priority, a women’s organization dedicated to breast cancer research and prevention.

You can survive breast cancer. And you can live a normal life, providing you catch the disease in time.

“I’m doing great,” said Cobb, founding president of the local chapter of High Priority. “All the tests are negative, and I’m a year out of treatment. I’m just doing great.”

Some recent statistics about breast cancer have Cobb--wife of cardiologist Tyson Cobb--wanting to redouble her efforts to raise funds to help combat the disease.

When Cobb founded the local chapter of High Priority seven years ago, one out of 11 women could expect to get the disease. “Now it’s one of nine,” Cobb said.

Experts can’t explain the increase. “But some feel it only appears to be an increase because testing is better than before,” Cobb said, “more people are learning about their disease sooner.”

That’s good, but disturbing. The women had hoped for a decrease. According to Carol Wilken--chairwoman of the High Priority Golf and Tennis tourneys held on Monday at the Ritz-Carlton--the group’s mission is more urgent than ever. “Proceeds from this benefit will be used to fund a national telephone line,” Wilken said. Once it is established, women around the country will be able to pick up the phone and get cancer counseling free of charge. Wilken estimated tourney proceeds at about $50,000.

Sunday night’s festivities, which were held in the 12,000 square-foot Mediterranean home of Sandra and Tak Ishida, began with appetizers served on the terrace and ended with dessert on the third floor (with its sweeping view of the posh Ritz-Carlton, a next-door neighbor.)

“People are always asking us if this is a hotel,” said Travis Ishida, 12, as he helped his parents welcome about 125 guests. “We just tell them, ‘No. This is a house.’ There is nothing else we can say.”

Sandra Ishida, an attorney, said her husband, a developer, proposed to her at the Ritz-Carlton. “Our whole life seems to revolve around this area,” she said. “It’s a lovely place to live, a beautiful place to raise children.”

Among guests were actors Lyle Waggoner (remember him on “The Carol Burnett Show”?) and Andrew Stevens. Waggoner said he was looking forward to wielding a tennis racquet in such beautiful surroundings. He decided to participate in the event, he said, when his wife “dressed me up, put me in a car, and said, ‘We’re going to the Ritz-Carlton to play tennis.’

“The truth is, we do a lot of these things,” he said. “And I don’t know much about this charity. But these are some awfully lovely people.”

Among golfers at the Monday tourney was Peter Ueberroth (his wife, Ginny, is a breast cancer survivor.) “He underwrote 12 golfers at $250 each,” said Ledge Hale. “A generous man.” Also among guests: Olivia Johnson, president of High Priority; Ginny Hale; Karen Betson; Connie Murphy; Sharon Paisley; Betty Belden Palmer, and Angie Patscheck.

Brunch bunch: They did it again--held Orange County’s premiere brunch benefit. Only this time, Pacific Symphony supporters staged the food fest in a power restaurant instead of a power house. Proceeds of about $10,000 are expected from the event held at Bistro 201 in Irvine on Sunday. Lynda Gome was chairwoman.