The Impact Of The Holocaust On Breast Cancer In Jewish Families Today: Sharsheret to Present Free National Teleconference

By Cornershop Creative June 2, 2010

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Elana Silber, Director of Operations
Telephone: (866) 474-2774
E-Mail: [email protected]

Teaneck, New Jersey (July 2, 2010) – Sharsheret, a national not-for-profit organization supporting young Jewish women and their families, of all backgrounds, facing breast cancer, will present a free national teleconference and webinar, “The Impact of the Holocaust on Breast Cancer in Jewish Families Today,” Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 8:00 p.m. (EST). The teleconference and webinar audio taping, written transcript, and slides will be posted online after the event at www.sharsheret.org.

Panelists include Lital Keinan-Boker, MD, PhD, MPH, Faculty Member of the Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Rifky Atkin, Sharsheret Link and a child of Holocaust Survivors, and Niecee Schonberger, MS, CGC, Genetics Program Coordinator at Sharsheret. “Ashkenazi Jewish women and families, who are at increased risk of developing breast cancer, are desperately seeking information about their family cancer history as they research breast cancer life-saving methods. Unfortunately, they are at a tremendous disadvantage as they cannot access their family cancer history due to the obliteration of much of their family lineage during the Holocaust,” said Director of Operations Elana Silber. “With this teleconference and webinar, Sharsheret will provide vital information about the effect of genetics on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and insights into how the Holocaust has impacted the incidence of breast cancer in Jewish families today.”

Panelists will discuss the recent University of Haifa study demonstrating a higher incidence of breast cancer among Jews living in Europe during the Holocaust, the challenges of tracing family cancer histories destroyed during the Holocaust, and the concerns of Jewish women and families considering genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer. There will also be an opportunity to pose questions during a question and answer session. All participants will remain anonymous.

To register for the teleconference and webinar and for dial-in instructions, please email [email protected] or call toll-free (866) 474-2774. This teleconference and webinar was made possible with generous support from Susan G. Komen for the Cure® North Jersey Affiliate and the Julius and Emmy Hamburger Memorial Fund.

About Sharsheret
Sharsheret is a national not-for-profit organization for young Jewish women and their families, of all Jewish backgrounds, facing breast cancer. Our mission is to offer a community of support to women diagnosed with breast cancer or at increased genetic risk, by fostering culturally-relevant individualized connections with networks of peers, health professionals, and related resources.

Since Sharsheret’s founding in 2001, we have responded to more than 19,000 breast cancer inquiries, involved more than 1,000 peer supporters, and presented over 200 educational programs nationwide. Sharsheret now offers a continuum of care for the Jewish community – addressing the needs of those who are concerned about the risk of breast cancer in their family, those who have been diagnosed with the disease and are undergoing treatment, and those who face issues of survivorship or recurrence.

Sharsheret has developed the following national programs:

The Link Program
· Peer Support Network, connecting women newly diagnosed or at high risk of developing breast cancer one-on-one with others who share similar diagnoses and experiences;
· Embrace, supporting women living with advanced breast cancer;
· Genetics for Life, addressing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer;
· Busy Box, for young parents facing breast cancer;
· Best Face Forward, to address the cosmetic side effects of treatment;
· Sharsheret Supports, assisting in launching and helping to sustain local support groups;
· Family Focus, providing resources and support for caregivers and family members.

Education and Outreach Programs
· Health Care Symposia on issues unique to younger women facing breast cancer;
· Sharsheret on Campus, outreach to students on campus;
· Facing Breast Cancer as a Jewish Woman educational resource booklet series.

For more information about Sharsheret, please visit www.sharsheret.org or call (866) 474-2774.

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Sharsheret is a national not-for-profit organization supporting young Jewish women and their families, of all backgrounds, facing breast cancer.

email: [email protected]
phone: (866) 474-2774
web: http://www.sharsheret.org