Sharsheret (organization)

Sharsheret
Motto	"Linking Young Jewish Women in Their Fight Against Breast Cancer"
Formation	2001
Type	Non-profit organization
Purpose/focus	Social support
Location	Teaneck, New Jersey
Region served	United States of America
Director of Operations	Elana Silber
Staff	<10
Volunteers	>1000
Website	http://www.sharsheret.org/

Sharsheret is a national Non-profit organization dedicated to serving the unique concerns of Jewish women with breast cancer.

History

Founding

Sharsheret was founded in November 2001 by Rochelle Shoretz, a former Law Clerk to United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who recognized the need for a breast cancer organization sensitive to the cultural needs of young Jewish women and families after her own diagnosis at age 28.

According to a 2001 assessment of the breast cancer needs of young women, "Young women need to be able to see and talk to young survivors in order to believe it's possible to survive breast cancer and they are not alone." Information provided to young women "should be targeted; women need to perceive information as personally relevant to women in their age group and culture."

The concerns of pre-menopausal women facing breast cancer are unique. Young women are dating, marrying, having children, and raising children. Their cancers tend to be more aggressive, may result in early menopause, and are associated with higher mortality rates, yet breast cancer research studies often fail to include pre-menopausal women. Young Jewish women face additional concerns, including the increased genetic risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer in families of Ashkenazi/Eastern European descent (1 in 40 Jews carries a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene that can trigger these cancers), the role of Jewish spirituality in daily life with cancer and in healing, and cultural norms surrounding dating, marriage, and fertility.

Since its founding in 2001, Sharsheret has responded to more than 23,000 breast cancer and ovarian cancer inquiries, involved more than 1,400 peer supporters, and presented more than 250 educational programs nationwide. In recognition of Sharsheret’s important contributions to women’s health, Sharsheret was named a recipient of the New York State Innovation in Breast Cancer Early Detection and Research Award, and selected as a member of the LIVESTRONG Young Adult Alliance. In 2010, Rochelle was appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That same year, recognizing the need for specific support for those facing ovarian cancer, Sharsheret launched a national ovarian cancer program.

Services & Programming

The Link Program

The Link Program is a peer support network connecting women newly diagnosed or at high risk of developing breast cancer with others who share similar diagnoses and experiences.

• Peer Support Network, connecting women newly diagnosed or at high risk of developing breast cancer with others who share similar diagnoses and experiences
• Embrace, supporting women living with advanced breast cancer
• Empower, addressing the concerns of women without partners facing breast cancer
• Genetics for Life, a program focusing on the issues related to hereditary breast cancer and offering resources, information, and individualized genetic counseling support to Jewish women diagnosed with breast cancer and for those at risk due to their strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
• Family Focus, a program offering resource materials and the "Ask Sharsheret" phone line to guide family members and caregivers through treatment and beyond.
• Sharsheret Forum, an online message board for Jewish women facing breast cancer, their family members, and caregivers.

Education and Outreach Programs

Sharsheret also conducts various Education and Outreach Programs, including community outreach events in private homes as well as public health care symposia addressing the concerns of Jewish women facing breast cancer.

• Health Care Symposia, public discussions featuring experts in various social and medical fields. on . Recent events addressed the subjects of issues unique to younger women diagnosed with breast cancer, fertility, parenting during breast cancer, breast cancer genetics, and survivorship.
• Sharsheret Supports, a national model for local support groups offering facilitator training and resources to assist in beginning and sustaining a culturally-sensitive breast cancer support group.
• Sharsheret on Campus, outreach to high school and college students, aimed at increasing awareness of both breast cancer and Sharsheret
• Facing Breast Cancer as a Jewish Woman educational resource booklet series
• National Volunteer Program sharing Sharsheret’s mission through representatives and programs across the country.
• Health Information about breast health and the genetic risks of breast and ovarian cancer for Jewish women.
• Sharsheret Booklet Series, designed to raise awareness about issues many Jewish women face in their fight against breast cancer. Booklets in the series include:

• Facing Breast Cancer as a Jewish Woman
• Facing Breast Cancer as an Orthodox Jewish Woman
• Breast Cancer Genetics and the Jewish Woman

• Resource Information on a wide range of topics for women facing breast cancer and their families, available in print and on the Sharsheret website. Some of the information is packaged into pamphlets targeting different aspects of breast cancer:

• For Women Facing Breast Cancer
• For Women Living With Advanced Breast Cancer
• For Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer
• For Family Members and Friends
• For Health Care Professionals
• For Jewish Community Leaders

Quality of Life Programs

Sharsheret also addresses the social needs of breast cancer diagnosees through the following programs:

• Busy Box, for young parents facing breast cancer
• Best Face Forward, to address the cosmetic side effects of treatment

Awards

Rochelle Shoretz, the founder of Sharsheret, was invited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to represent Sharsheret on an Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women (ACBCYW). The ACBCYW web site describes this committee as "a federal advisory committee established by the Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act, section 10413 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148). The EARLY Act authorizes CDC to develop initiatives to increase knowledge of breast health and breast cancer among women, particularly among those under the age of 40 and those at heightened risk for developing the disease.

The Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women will assist CDC in developing evidence-based approaches to advance understanding and awareness of breast cancer among young women through prevention research, public and health professional education and awareness activities, and emerging prevention strategies."

External links

• Sharsheret Homepage
• Sharsheret Blog
• Susan G. Komen for the Cure
• Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grantee Profile: Sharsheret: A tailored support network for Jewish women
• Sharsheret Facebook page
• Interview with the founder of Sharsheret
• 2010 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Interview with founder of Sharsheret
• Maybe I’ll Be Able To Dance At A Wedding
• Sharsheret celebrates milestone on 10/10/10
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women
• Members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women
• Local Supporter Of Breast Cancer Victims To Serve On Federal Advisory Committee
• Sharsheret aids young Jewish women with cancer
• Transcript from The Human Blueprint: Jewish Perspectives on Modern Genetics Conference
• When Cancer Meets Inner Drive