Breast Cancer - A Jewish Disease?

I recently attended a breast cancer awareness workshop at the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. My friend Debbie had asked me to attend to offer support for her friend and ex-AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) colleague Carolyn Newman who was scheduled to be the guest speaker. I was planning on going anyway, but as Debbie was going to be out of town, I felt it even more important to lend my own personal support.

The JCC event was promoted by the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation and offered the chance to hear Carolyn, a 42 year old Jewish woman who was just diagnosed in May with the disease, as well as a medical professional who discussed prevention strategies and current research.

Even though I have attended these types of advocacy workshops in the past, I learned a few new pieces of information which really struck home.

As the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, I follow news and information about cancer research very closely. What has continued to perplex me is why I seem to know or have heard of, many Jewish women, young and old who have either beaten breast cancer or unfortunately succumbed to this horrible, ravaging disease. Now I may have the answer.

At the workshop, Carolyn read from her own personal journal and emotionally described her diagnosis, treatment and personal journey and commitment to educating and helping others even as she is helping herself.

The medical professional on hand, Dr Alejandra Perez, co-director of the Breast Cancer Center at Memorial Cancer Institute in Hollywood, Florida, mentioned the fact that one in forty Ashkenazi women carry the BRCA gene mutation which significantly increases the risk of breast cancer.

One in forty?! I was floored. How could I have not heard of this fact before? Perhaps I was not paying close enough attention at previous workshops.

So, I did some research. According to the National Institutes of Health in Washington D.C., studies of DNA samples done in 1995 and 1996 revealed that Ashkenazi Jews are 10 times more likely to have mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes than the general population. Approximately 2.65 percent of the Ashkenazi Jewish population has a mutation in these genes, while only 0.2 percent of the general population carries these mutations.

With these facts, is the Jewish community doing enough to promote breast cancer awareness, education and advocacy?

I have been impressed with how organized breast cancer awareness is in America and how Jewish organizations like my JCC promote such events. Jewish day schools, synagogues and other community organizations usually have fund raising drives and sponsor advocacy seminars like the one I attended. It is also encouraging to know about organizations like Sharsheret and One in Nine.

While I often slam the level of media sensationalism that prevails in this country, I will concede that American media in general does a pretty decent job in supporting and airing stories regarding events, research and education for cancer related issues.

How the Israeli media fares in promoting breast cancer awareness is not something I have a great handle on, as I live in America. I did run an internet search of the major English language Israeli news sites for “breast cancer.” The only recent item I could find connected to Breast Cancer Awareness Month was about a special blender now being sold in the color pink, which is associated with the fight against breast cancer. I can only hope and assume that way more is being done (beyond what I found on the internet) by the Israeli media to promote awareness during this whole month of October.

Looking further for an answer, I found a 2003 report by an international public relations association which evaluated the ICA’s (Israel Cancer Association) efforts to promote a special campaign, “333 Women Every Month.” The report stated that the campaign generated extensive media coverage and impact. According to the association, this achievement was despite the fact, that perhaps media attention of Breast Cancer Awareness Month each October might be muted because it often falls during the ssame time as the Jewish holidays.

But I can’t help but question why the Israeli media wouldn’t consider the Jewish holiday season to be the perfect time for promoting awareness and education of this terrible disease. Don’t we pray during this time of year about our fates being sealed and who shall live and who shall die?

At the JCC seminar, Carolyn Newman instructed the women and men in attendance to be lions, not lambs in terms of their own health care and breast cancer awareness. Everyone should do their part, whether it is having mammograms, self examinations, supporting cancer research through donations, or even pushing the media to continue to cover this issue.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we all owe it to Carolyn, and the other brave Jewish women battling this disease, to be lions and to make sure that their personal battles become our battles too.