In this deeply personal blog post, I want to share my journey of facing breast cancer as a lesbian woman. Breast cancer does not discriminate, and I encountered a range of emotions, from fear and uncertainty to strength and determination. Through the ups and downs, the… Continue reading
Is being a caregiver for a partner really that tough Well yes. I think so. It was for me. And something tells me that I'm not the only one. My partner, Sarah, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 27. My experiences caused me to grapple with the unexpected difficulties… Continue reading
Going through a health crisis can be traumatic, and breast cancer is no exception. More than 240,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. each year, accounting for about 30% of all new female cancers. While screening can help to detect breast cancer earlier,… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
Support at Every Stage We at Sharsheret understand how difficult of a time that experiencing symptoms and being diagnosed with breast cancer can be. That's why we’re focused on providing Jewish women, men, and their families, friends, and caregivers with resources… Continue reading
Support at Every Stage 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… Continue reading
I am a BRCA gene mutation carrier, which means that I am at a much higher risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer, among other cancers. In the past few years, I had two prophylactic (preventative) surgeries that should significantly reduce the risk. I went to… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
Breast cancer is a complex disease with different subtypes, and HER2-positive breast cancer is one of them. This type of breast cancer is caused by mutations in the HER2 gene, leading to overexpression of the HER2 protein. As a result, these types of breast cancers grow and… Continue reading
Sometimes those who have been diagnosed with cancer think that a hereditary genetic test will not be beneficial. They might think, “I’ve already got cancer, this won’t help me.” Nothing could be further from the truth. There have always been three good reasons for… Continue reading
In 2019, I was 56 years old. I was happily married and the mother of two grown sons. I didn’t talk about it much, but I always assumed that at some point, I would be diagnosed with cancer. My father had died at the age of 38, from stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma and his mother… Continue reading
HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is a protein present in normal cells that helps to regulate cell growth and division. The HER2 gene makes this HER2 protein, which is located on the cell surface. In about 1 in 5 breast cancers, the HER2 gene makes extra copies… Continue reading
I was originally diagnosed as Stage I Hormone+ HER2- in Sept of 2019, and was then diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer (mBC) in July 2020. The cancer had spread rapidly to my liver and bones including my spine and pelvis. My oncologist tried prescribing 5 different series of… Continue reading
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 at the age of 32. I had just finished breastfeeding my second son and noticed a lump in the shower. It turned out that there were 3 aggressive tumors in my breast. I eventually ended up having a bilateral mastectomy and needed… Continue reading
