Finding out about a BRCA positive risk can feel scary and daunting. In my experience, I felt it was empowering. Thanks to the revealed education and studies in recent years, there are facts and information that can help a person navigate this challenge and bring awareness on… Continue reading →

In a normal year, it can be difficult to prioritize your health. The pandemic has certainly added to the challenge, forcing many to delay mammograms and other important health screenings. Now is the time to get those back on your schedule. Breast cancer incidence rates have… Continue reading →

This has undoubtedly been a truly engaging and informative summer working at Sharsheret. As an intern, I was given the opportunity to work with many staff members on various projects, and I feel that I am concluding this internship with a very well-rounded array of experiences.… Continue reading →

While I have worked with and been connected to Sharsheret prior to this internship, this summer opportunity has allowed me to gain a unique type of appreciation for the organization. My mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor who is now a dedicated member of the Sharsheret… Continue reading →

"You should reach out to Sharsheret.” This was one piece of advice among many that I received as I processed my breast cancer diagnosis last year at age 30. The organization sounded familiar from my college days as an AEPhi sorority sister. I had been feeling so stressed, sad,… Continue reading →

This summer I had the opportunity to intern for the donations and development teams at Sharsheret. This internship proved to be quite rewarding and eye opening, as I was able to gain a deeper understanding of what Sharsheret does on the daily to help out their callers. I was… Continue reading →

Receiving the call that I was selected to be a part of Sharsheret’s Summer Internship was an exciting day that I will never forget. I was already filled with love for an organization that I really only knew at surface level, but I was sure the experience would be life… Continue reading →

I was diagnosed with stage 2B ovarian cancer in late December 2019. My prognosis was good, my spirits were high, and I managed to make it through surgery and chemotherapy with a positive attitude and a smile on my face. Thirteen months after treatment ended, I learned that the… Continue reading →

I’ll never forget September 7, 2012, the day that I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was only 28 years old at the time, so it was a huge shock. It turned out that I had the BRCA1 mutation, which can cause breast cancer at a young age. I was lucky that I caught the cancer… Continue reading →

When you first receive a breast cancer diagnosis, there are so many decisions to make. The blur of the diagnosis, frantic phone calls with family and friends, doctor appointments, scheduling procedures, and more, prepares you for the initial stages of battle. What many people… Continue reading →

As I sit back and reflect on the past 3 years since being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, I realize that it is the first time that I feel like my old self pre-cancer.  Looking back, everything seemed so blurry--I was in survival mode and trying to stay ahead of what… Continue reading →

Sharsheret has had such a positive impact on my life. Throughout all four years of college, I was able to raise awareness and fundraise for Sharsheret through my sorority, Alpha Epsilon Phi. Every event and fundraiser was so inspiring and uplifting, and it was amazing to see… Continue reading →

March 20, 2017 was the day I found out that my mom had breast cancer. One of the first things my mom did was to test for the BRCA gene. When she found out she was BRCA negative, we all exhaled a huge sigh of relief. While it didn’t erase her pain and worry, knowing that there… Continue reading →

I  wasn’t always a daily exerciser. Physical activity wasn’t always a priority in my life. In fact, when my four kids were little, there were times when fitness wasn’t even on my radar! For most of my adult life, exercise was in and out of my life. I’d join a gym… Continue reading →

I found a large lump nursing my newborn son in the hospital. I was thirty-four years old with no family history of breast cancer, so I didn't think anything of it and wasn't concerned. However, six months later, I was asked to have four back-to-back "emergency biopsies" at my… Continue reading →

In 2018, Sharsheret Program Participant Deedee Bitran wrote about her emotional journey using IVF to prevent passing on the BRCA gene mutation to her future children. Here is the next part of her story. Our surrogacy journey certainly did not go as planned. Surrogacy can be… Continue reading →

In February 2022, Mishe Bear LLC, a company that creates teddy bears which are as meaningful as they are snuggly, launched a campaign to raise awareness about Sharsheret on Pink Day.  The name “Mishe Bear” comes from the Jewish prayer “Mi Sheberach,” a prayer for… Continue reading →

Knowing your risk is the best way to protect yourself and your family Each year, more than 250,000 women and about 2,300 men in the United States learn that they have breast cancer, and nearly 20,000 women find out that they have ovarian cancer. Most of these cancers occur by… Continue reading →

August 2013 will never be forgotten.  My oldest child was getting ready for freshman year of college, my baby was a sophomore in high school, and I found out I had ovarian cancer.  To say we were all in shock was an understatement.  As far as we knew, we had no family history… Continue reading →

We were in full lockdown mode at the beginning of the pandemic. My then 2-year-old son was out of school and my husband, Ron, was working from home. I was breastfeeding my 8-month-old daughter and had been experiencing breast pain, unexplained fevers, night sweats, and… Continue reading →