Testing, testing Summer of 2017. I’ll never forget sitting in the doctor’s office at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago where I was having a family meeting with my mom, dad and brother to discuss testing for the BRCA1 gene with our genetic counselor. Still riding my post-graduation high from the University of Michigan at the end of April, and only a few weeks into my first-ever real job working for the global public relations agency Weber Shandwick at the John Hancock tower just blocks away, at 22 years old I was a fresh fish out of water in work and in life. At the appointment, my family and I ..read more

Step-by-Step Guide to Navigating a Breast Biopsy Experience By Lisa Schechter This year, when I went for my routine mammogram, my usual expectation of a normal report took an unexpected turn. Check out part one of this series, “Navigating Uncertainty, Part 1, My Experience In “The Waiting Room.” When my mammogram results led to a biopsy, I was gripped with fear about both the what ifs as well as the unknown of what a biopsy would be like. Unlike the many “what to expect” guides when you are pregnant, there was a lack of “what to expect” guides for a breast biopsy. So I put one together to help ..read more

Approximately 50% of cancer patients need radiation treatment. It is important to be informed before this stage of your treatment.  Please see some commonly asked questions and responses from a radiation therapist who has treated hundreds of patients over the past 6 years.  Please tell us a little about you? My name is Raizy Streicher, I’ve been a Radiation Therapist for a little over six years now. I have four children and live in Spring Valley, NY.   How did you choose to become a Radiation Therapist?  I always planned on pursuing a career in the medical field but wa ..read more

After two weeks of sporadic nipple pain and an email from my boss reminding everyone to be on top of their cancer screenings, I heard the words that no 30-year-old mom wants to hear: “You have triple-negative breast cancer.” And just like that, I was propelled from a world of potty training and preschool to one of chemotherapy and surgery. Although I am extremely blessed to have two daughters, Sara (5) and Lily (2.5), I was lucky to have time to complete fertility preservation treatments before starting chemotherapy. Because triple-negative breast cancer is a more aggressive form of cancer, ch ..read more

When I turned 38, I conscientiously embarked on the routine of getting annual  mammograms. These yearly checkups became a familiar part of my life, as did marking  these days with a donation to Sharsheret. Typically, a note or a call from the doctor  would follow, assuring me that my results were normal, and I could return next year  without worry.  However, this year unfolded differently. After undergoing a mammogram and  ultrasound, I received an unexpected text message notifying me of my results. As I  anxiously opened the report, the words “suspicious fin ..read more

One of the hardest parts of finding out that you carry a mutation predisposing to cancer is the concern that it may have been inherited by your children. Listen to Sharsheret’s Peggy Cottrell, MS, CGC, Genetics Program Manager, and Marleah Dean Kruzel, MD, Associate Professor, University of South Florida, as they discuss how to talk to children and young adults about hereditary cancer in a developmentally appropriate way. This webinar will also include some recent updates related to hereditary cancer. Presented with support from:   The post Generations of Understand ..read more

I wanted to share a simple and effortless breakfast from the Beller Method that offers a wide source of fiber and fiber boosters that will truly support our body optimizing its natural detoxification process.  It’s my Multi-Fiber Bowl! An important staple in my practice that not only features diverse fibers but is also delicious and totally energizing. It makes for a perfect, quick and easy, rushing-out-your-front-door morning breakfast solution. Fiber helps declutter and shuttle out the junk accumulating in our bodies, whether it accumulates from the things we eat to our bodys’ self-made ..read more

Introduction – Breast Cancer   We at Sharsheret understand how difficult of a time that experiencing symptoms and being diagnosed with breast cancer can be. At Sharsheret, we’re focused on providing Jewish women, men, and their families, friends, and caregivers with resources and advice on moving forward.   The Risks for Jewish Women & Men   Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer diagnoses for women, and the risks of developing breast cancer are especially high for those with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. They’re more than 10 times as likely to carry a BRCA gene mutatio ..read more

Introduction – Ovarian Cancer   Sharsheret’s mission throughout the years since our founding by Rochelle L. Shoretz has been to improve the lives of both Jewish women and their families through our personalized approach to support and educational outreach.   What Is Ovarian Cancer?    Ovarian cancer is a growth of malignant cells that originate in the ovaries. Although it forms in the ovaries, if left untreated the growth may further metastasize directly into the pelvic and abdominal space to other organs, or travel through the bloodstream and/or lymphatic vessels to other ..read more

I was in pain. Everyone told me not to worry because pain is not usually an indicator of cancer. But I knew something didn’t feel right. Three biopsies later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The BRCA2 mutation runs in my family, but I am BRCA negative. This was not supposed to be my story! I live in New York and my parents and extended family live in Israel. My bilateral mastectomy was scheduled for October 10th . So, my mother booked a ticket to come care for me during my surgery and recovery. And then the unthinkable happened. The October 7th massacre. My mother could no longer come to ..read more