Our Voices: A Blog by Links, Callers and Volunteers

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Monday, December 20, 2010

Breast Cancer with a Twist

By: H. Z. Ben-Nahum, Sharsheret Volunteer

Over 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was in my late 40’s, athletic, and health-conscious. The day it all began will be imprinted on my mind forever. I was enjoying a game of tennis, when the ball hit my nipple. I noticed that my nipple had swollen and had not returned to normal even after several days. Concerned, I decided to consult a doctor. I was advised to schedule surgery as soon as possible. I underwent a radical mastectomy, followed by treatment. Genetic testing wasn’t on my radar screen as Myriad Labs only discovered how to test for the BRCA gene five years after my initial diagnosis. I now have two adult children. My daughter recently approached me requesting that I undergo genetic testing because she was worried about her own risk of developing breast cancer. I obliged and am grateful that I tested BRCA-. For now, they will continue to have increased surveillance. I am living with metastatic breast cancer to the lungs, I’m experiencing side effects from treatment, but I stay active and busy. I still worry about my children and their risk of developing cancer, just like all mothers diagnosed with breast cancer. The only thing that makes me different is that I AM THEIR FATHER. I am lending my voice to raise awareness that breast cancer can be passed along from father to daughter. We must continue to protect our futures and those of our children by remembering to include the paternal family history when considering our children’s genetic risk of developing breast cancer. I hope that by sharing my story with Sharsheret, we can save lives.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Taking Time in San Antonio

By: Rochelle Shoretz, Sharsheret Founder and Executive Director

I have spent the last four days attending the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, an annual conference at which clinicians, research scientists and advocates gather to share the most recent research on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. At this year's conference we learned about international clinical trials exploring treatments for triple negative breast cancer beyond trastuzumab. We learned about a trial exploring the use of zoledronic acid in women with earlier stage breast cancer. And we learned about trials exploring treatments beyond aromatase inhibitors.

But what does this really mean for all of us, the women and families of Sharsheret? One of my takeaways from this year's conference is that personalized medicine, the ability to tailor treatment based on the particular characteristics of one's cancer cells, is at the core of emerging research. Therefore, it is critical that we understand the biomarkers of our particular cancers. Are the cells Her2 positive or negative? Estrogen receptor positive or negative? Progesterone receptor positive or negative? We must take the time to understand - not just read and not just file - but understand our pathology reports. These reports, and the information they contain, will help us work with our health care team to craft our personal treatment plans. And we'll need this information in the years ahead as new tailored treatments emerge.

As younger women, we are often in a rush. We want to get cancer over with, get back to our families and careers, get treatment started so that it can end. We sometimes rush through the understanding that can only come with questions, questions that we may be too afraid or too rushed to ask.

I had four days to ask questions, and it was empowering. Although I was diagnosed almost ten years ago, I found myself considering new questions, making notes of discussions I would like to have with my oncologist. It's not too late for me, or for any of us, to ask the difficult questions and to take the time to understand.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Live From the 33rd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: Obesity and Breast Cancer

By: Rochelle Shoretz, Sharsheret Founder and Executive Director

As Sharsheret staff members travel around the country, we are constantly asked, “What more can we do to help ourselves?” Now we have clinical data suggesting that obesity at diagnosis is associated with inferior outcomes in some breast cancers. The implication of this study is critical to the Jewish community where food is central to our collective cultural experiences. On the heels of Chanukah, where we celebrate with deliciously unhealthy foods such as potato pancakes and jelly donuts, we need to raise our awareness as to the impact our diets may have on our health. Click here to read the new emerging research from the 33rd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. We suspect you may have thoughts about this topic. Post your comments below to continue this important conversation.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A Special Chanukah Gift

By: Rochelle Shoretz, Founder, Executive Director

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking in Philly before a group of 75 women of all walks of Jewish life. I met some of our Peer Supporters and Callers from the area (we have 41), and recruited 10 new women to join our national Peer Support Network. The woman who introduced me was one of our very first Sharsheret Callers, who has been a Peer Supporter for almost 8 years now, and who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time. As we all watched Sharsheret’s promotional Race DVD, filmed in 2004, it was incredible to see how much the organization has grown – how many more lives we’ve touched, how many lives we have lost, how much of an impact we have made. I took the last train out of Philly at 11 p.m., tired but satisfied after a day of meetings at Philly Federation and the Parlor Meeting late at night.

On the ride home, I peeled open the envelopes that so many had given with contributions in support of our work. There, on the top of the pile, was a first time gift of $5,000 from a woman who was moved by our mission.

And I’m sure you’re thinking that, indeed, we received a very special Chanukah gift last week.

But the truth is, the real Chanukah gift came in the form of the introduction we received from that original Caller. She described Sharsheret as a Shamash, a servant of good in the world, providing light to those who need it at the darkest hour.

Thank you all for giving us a true gift – the opportunity to shine light for so many. We are so grateful for all of the support that makes that light possible.

Looking forward to celebrating many more holidays together, in health.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

A Chanukah Miracle

By: Shera Dubitsky, MEd, MA, Sharsheret Clinical Supervisor

Chanukah celebrates the miraculous victory and survival of the Jewish people. In our history, we see that miracles often follow times of despair and hopelessness, testing our very core as individuals and as a community. In Hebrew, the word for test is nisayon. Within this word we find nes, miracle. This suggests to me that both of these phenomena have the potential to be experienced in tandem.

When a woman, her family, her community are touched by cancer, we desperately seek miracles. We hope and pray for these miracles to be as grand as the parting of the Red Sea. Do miracles of this grandeur still happen? Will the cure become an absolute outcome for all women diagnosed with cancer? The answer remains unknown today, but it may reveal itself tomorrow. This is the power of hope.

In the meantime, I revel in the small, beautiful wonders I have witnessed at Sharsheret. Sharsheret began as a conversation between two young women diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, that conversation includes thousands of Jewish women, families, and communities across the country. I have seen the power of emotional and spiritual healing through strength of character, generosity of spirit, kindness, and humor.

A diagnosis of cancer can begin in darkness. But I have seen the brilliance of light shine in the resiliency of the human spirit. As I light my candles this Chanukah, I will remember that although the holiday begins with the faint light of one candle, slowly, candle by candle, day by day, the illumination of light becomes powerful. In our history, the word cancer was taboo and whispered only in darkness. Sharsheret has shed light on this important issue and brought hope to the Jewish community. I believe that this is our victory, our miracle.