Tensions were high. Our marriage had fallen apart. It was time to tell our kids. But instead of telling the kids that we were getting divorced, we had a different conversation with them. I had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. It was stage 2 and had spread to… Continue reading
This year, my sister and I signed up to run the NYC Marathon with Team Sharsheret.Training for the marathon has been one of the most intensive and rewarding experiences of our lives. While it has been challenging, we are so inspired because the amazing cause that we are running… Continue reading
If you have been treated for breast or ovarian cancer, you may worry about the possibility that your cancer may come back, or recur. This is a common concern for people who have experienced cancer.1 Establishing a strong monitoring plan with your oncologist can help you gain… Continue reading
Numbness after a mastectomy is a problem that isn’t discussed enough A mastectomy is a major decision and can be incredibly overwhelming. In the midst of overwhelming emotion, it’s hard to consider what life will look like after treatment. A common side effect that’s… Continue reading
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, prepare 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
