At breast cancer “tea” hosted by Menorah Life and Sharsheret program: Donna Perryman, Menorah Life CEO, Deborah Litwak from Sharsheret, survivor Laurie Reiskind and Nicole Spencer of Menorah Life.
L’dor v’dor. It’s a positive Hebrew phrase that describes passing along a legacy of Jewish values and traditions. Unfortunately, not everything we pass “from generation to generation” is good.
As many Jews of Ashkenazi descent know, hereditary cancer genes – particularly the BRCA gene mutation that is an indicator that a person may be at risk for breast and ovarian cancers – are prevalent among Jews with ancestors who came from Eastern European. Experts advise genetic counseling and testing to determine whether you are a carrier for the BRCA gene. However, that may not be enough. In October – which is both Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Family History Month – Jewish women (and men) also need to know their family medical history.
Laurie Reiskind of St. Petersburg hadn’t thought about genetic counseling – until after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. That’s when she discovered that comprehensive genetic testing – even after the diagnosis – could still play a vital role in her treatment and recovery. Reiskind, who is of Ashkenazi descent, tested negative for the gene mutation, which meant “I didn’t need a more invasive surgery because I am not genetically predisposed,” she said.
L to R: Harriet Starr, Joyce Seder, Rhoda Gross, Marjorie Friedman.
After surgery, Reiskind’s oncologist tested the tumor and deemed chemotherapy unnecessary. Instead, her treatment included a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy. At age 60, she has been cancer-free for seven years.
Last month, Reiskind shared her experience at a presentation at Menorah Life in St. Petersburg, held in partnership with Hadassah’s St. Petersburg chapter and Sharsheret, a New Jersey-based international (U.S. and Israel) organization providing free breast cancer support, education and information.
Sharsheret will hold virtual seminars on a variety of subjects – throughout October and the year .Topics will include managing treatment side effects; nutrition and reducing cancer risk; balancing cancer treatment and recovery with work; and cultural competency training for medical professionals. Visit https://summit.sharsheret.org/events/.
L to R: Marlys Meckler, Sally Laufer, Ann Soble, Donna Perryman, Karyn Rizzi-Jimenez
Sharsheret’s Ruth and Sidney Vine Peer Support Network provides a one-on-one connection by matching newly diagnosed patients or women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer or ovarian cancer, with others who share similar diagnoses and experiences. Sharsheret, which means “chain” in Hebrew, makes a shidduch depending on a patient’s age, type or stage of cancer, treatment decisions or gender (men can speak with other men who also carry the gene mutation or who have been diagnosed with breast cancer).
Benefits of genetic counseling
The results of a genetic blood test can help a patient determine, with a doctor’s guidance, the next steps to reduce the breast cancer risk – as well as the risk of other related cancers. The testing can also help guide treatment choices, as it did for Reiskind.
Genetic counseling is available at many outlets in the Tampa Bay Area, including at Moffitt Cancer Center, said Deborah Litwak, outreach manager for Sharsheret’s southeast region. Litwak also recommends jscreen.org for more insight into the hereditary health risks.
Women with BRCA mutations should begin annual breast MRI with contrast by age 20-25 until age 29, said Darcy Berry, a certified genetic counselor at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. Beginning at age 30, women with the BRCA mutation should get an annual breast MRI with contrast and an annual mammogram – spacing the two procedures six months apart from each other. “Some women consider removing their healthy breasts prophylactically, which can reduce their risk of future breast cancer by about 90 percent,” Berry said.
If a woman does not have a hereditary breast cancer mutation, she would (at a minimum) still have the general population risk for breast cancer of approximately 12 percent, Berry said. “That’s why it’s recommended that all women have annual mammograms beginning at age 40. Family history of breast cancer, previous biopsy results and other factors can increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer and warrant additional breast screening even if the genetic testing is negative (normal).”
Know your risk
The BRCA mutation became prevalent among Jewish families in Eastern Europe because of the tendency to marry within the shtetl (community) or extended family, allowing a concentrated spread of the mutation through generations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 5-10 percent of breast cancers are hereditary. So even without inheriting the mutation, Joan Wadler of Tampa – tested negative for the BRCA gene and had no previous family history of breast cancer – was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2016.
Wadler’s mammogram in December 2015 showed no sign of cancer. But during a self-exam – something she recommends as a potential lifesaver – she found a lump five months later. She made an appointment with her gynecologist but canceled to take her daughter for a dental procedure. A few weeks later, her husband Marc reminded her to see the doctor. After her ultrasound, the radiologist recommended a biopsy. It revealed a type of cancer which is often diagnosed at later stages and is aggressive and fast-growing.
“It was the most traumatic, scary, horrible thing,” said Wadler, an attorney. At the time of her diagnosis, she had a child in high school and another about to leave for college. After a double mastectomy, Wadler endured 16 rounds of chemotherapy and a variety of post-op complications after the mastectomy and the reconstruction. By January 2017, the cancer was in remission.
“Everybody’s story is different. If you can catch the cancer early enough, you can do a lot to treat it,” said Wadler, 65, who is of Ashkenazi descent. “I can’t stress it enough. We must be in charge of our own bodies and our own care…. That is the biggest takeaway from my experience.”
Genetic counseling and screenings are also recommended for women of Sephardic ancestry. Certain mutations found in that community can increase the risk for hereditary cancers, according to the Norton & Elaine Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics in Chicago.
Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness
All three Tampa Bay chapters of Hadassah will hold their annual Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness on Sunday, October 26 in Largo. “Knowledge is power, and early detection is lifesaving,” said Dr. Michelle Zetoony, a physician and Hadassah member, who encourages women to participate in the walk . “We have the genetic predisposition, but we also have the awareness not to hide our heads in the sand.”
In October, support organizations will hold local walks to raise awareness and funds:
• Hadassah Walks for Breast Cancer Awareness: Sunday, October 26, 2:30 p.m. For information and location, register at events.hadassah.org/LPSPTABC25.
• The Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk: Saturday, October 18, 2025, 9 a.m. on the USF campus.
• American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer: Saturday, October 25, 7:30 a.m. at Raymond James Stadium.