Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy after discovering ‘Jewish gene’

Published on May 14, 2013

Actress Angelina Jolie had a double mastectomy after discovering that she had the breast cancer gene common to Ashkenazi Jewish women.

“How To Be A Friend To A Friend Who’s Sick” – Book Recommendation

By Rabbi John Rosove
Published on March 27, 2013

This week from Israel

By Noga Gur-Arieh
Published on December 24, 2012

Meet Linda – This is What Cancer Looks Like

By Ilana Angel
Published on February 5, 2012

Komen foundation cuts funding to Planned Parenthood

Published on February 1, 2012

The Susan B. Komen for the Cure foundation cut funding for Planned Parenthood breast cancer testing.

Passing of Evelyn Lauder marked by Jewish activists against breast cancer

Published on November 15, 2011

It’s hard to find a Jewish woman without a direct connection to breast cancer. With nearly one in 40 women of Ashkenazi descent possessing a genetic mutation that greatly increases their chances of contracting the disease, breast cancer, like Tay-Sachs and Gaucher’s, is a disproportionately Jewish disease.

In the war on breast cancer, Israel leads

Published on November 1, 2010

Irit Paneth, in and out of remission from breast cancer for more than a decade, was among the thousands who wound their way like a giant pink-and-white ribbon through Jerusalem's streets in the first Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Race for the Cure held in Israel.

Abraham’s Children: Genetic research opens book on Jewish identity—for good and bad

By Adam Wills
Published on December 26, 2008

Genetic research can open book on Jewish identity—for good and bad

By Adam Wills
Published on December 11, 2008

Critics fear that Jewish genetic research also opens a Pandora's box. The discovery of a shared genetic marker among men who claim to be descended from Kohanim grew into wild, exaggerated claims in the media that geneticists had confirmed the story of Aaron

Jewish women change their destinies by testing for genetic mutation

By Julie G Fax
Published on March 27, 2008

While within the general population about 5 percent of cancers can be attributed to a hereditary syndrome, in the Jewish community, that number is closer to 30 percent. The good news is that knowledge about how the mutation causes cancer is opening scientific doors to more effective, targeted treatment for those already diagnosed. And people who have the genetic mutation can take preventative measures to drastically reduce their breast and ovarian cancer risk.

Counting my bruchas

By Fredricka R. Maister
Published on October 18, 2007

They say brakha, I say brucha in referring to BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, the strong predictors of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer found with unusual frequency in women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Yes, "brucha," the Hebrew for blessing. Initially, I was being facetious by giving a Jewish pronunciation to the "Jewish gene"; at age 56 I had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and "tumor humor" helped me cope.

Groups offer hope and support for advanced breast cancer patients

By Francesca Lunzer Kritz
Published on October 4, 2007

Ever since Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards, announced that her breast cancer had recurred and was treatable, but not curable, breast cancer organizations have been fielding questions from women -- both from cancer patients and from women worried that if breast cancer does strike, it might also hit them in its most severe form.

Healing community rises from life-threatening illness

By Charlotte Hildebrand
Published on December 14, 2006

One out of eight women develop the disease over a lifetime, and the older a woman is, the higher her risk.To make matters worse, Jewish women have a slightly higher incidence of the disease.But no matter how low a risk factor you may have -- no family members with breast cancer, you had your children before the age of 35 and eat healthily -- the disease will strike some of the best of us.

Can MRI save lives?

By Adam Wills
Published on October 5, 2006

MRI is increasingly being recommended as a complimentary screening tool, especially to find invasive tumors.

Sher Cohen’s Law & Order: Justice Unit

By Gaby Friedman
Published on October 27, 2005

Don't call Nancy Sher Cohen at home after 8:30 p.m. "One of two things is usually true," the 54-year-old-litigator said. "Either I am asleep, because I am exhausted [from all the work], or I am out because I am working."

Letters to the Editor

Published on October 21, 2004

Letters to the Editor

Breast Cancer Tips Doctors Don’t Share

By Wendy J. Madnick
Published on October 14, 2004

Bus Girl

By Jewish Journal Staff
Published on April 15, 2004

The fictional Carrie Bradshaw saw her image on a bus placard because she wrote a popular sex column. But Carol Taubman sees her image go by each day on the side of MTA buses for a very different reason.

Coping With Cancer Proves Family Affair

By Nancy Sokoler Steiner
Published on November 27, 2003

In the first moments after Lori Marx-Rubiner was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, several fears ran through her head. The Jewish community social worker, who was 35 at the time, wondered about her mortality and worried about the prospect of pain and nausea induced by treatment. However, her deepest concern centered on her then 3-year-old son, Zachary.

Genetic Mutations Linked to Cancer

By Peter Ephross
Published on October 30, 2003

More information about health can only help -- even if the information isn't so positive.

That seems to be the lesson of a new study confirming that Ashkenazi Jewish women with particular genetic mutations have a high risk of contracting breast cancer.

Chains of Support

By Julie G Fax
Published on October 10, 2002

Two days after her radical breast cancer surgery last May, Missy Stein hit that moment where all the emotional and physical implications of her condition came crashing in on her.

But then she remembered Sari Abrams' words.

The Safe Spot

By Carin Davis
Published on April 25, 2002

"How do you explain breast cancer to your 3 1/2-year-old son?" asked Susan Cohen of Woodland Hills. "How does your spouse feel about becoming your caretaker?" These are some of the questions addressed at The Safe Spot. "The things we shared with other families [who] were on the same difficult journey as us," said Cohen, a USC professor and breast cancer survivor.

Beyond Breast Cancer

By Unai Montes
Published on October 4, 2001

"Living Beyond Breast Cancer" is comprehensive; at more than 500 pages, it has the room to cover the spectrum of medical themes without neglecting the related emotional issues.