On Purim, we read the Book of Esther. The Cliffs Note version of the story is that the evil Haman convinced King Achashverosh to deliver a decree to annihilate all the Jews in his empire. Each Jew could have understandably asked “why me” and become despondent and despairing.… Continue reading
My regular doctor’s checkup at my pediatrician had never been easy for the three of us. My mom held my hand as I, a 19-year-old girl, kicked and screamed as the doctor, whilst holding me down, pricked me with a needle. Once she’d finish, we all calmed down—relief spread… Continue reading
I am truly honored to be part of Team Sharsheret for the second year. Last year when I ran in the NYC half marathon, I received an email the Friday before the race from Rochelle Shoretz wishing me good luck. In the email she wrote how she wished she could be running… Continue reading
Why do I run for team Sharsheret Six years ago, two of my dear friends were diagnosed with breast cancer- that was my first introduction to the world of breast cancer and its impact on the lives of others. That experience paved the way for my connection to Sharsheret. I… Continue reading
This morning I took the step of moving forward with my efforts as a Sharsheret volunteer. I was awed at the sheer range of services Sharsheret offers to women affected by breast cancer. I called with the intent to help others; yet I left with not just that… Continue reading
“I bet they find a cure tomorrow!” my mother said, then shook her head as her eyes filled with tears.It was midnight on April 2, 2009. I’d raced over to my parents’ home after getting the call I’d dreaded: My wonderful sister Emily, 37, had passed away after an 8-year… Continue reading
December 11, 2015 marked 6 years since I was diagnosed with Stage 2b Triple Negative breast cancer. I am dancing with NED (No Evidence of Disease) and hope that I continue to do so for a very long time!I had 7 surgeries and months of chemo. I experienced some… Continue reading
When Rochelle Shoretz, Sharsheret’s Founder, passed away, social media was overflowing with articles about Rochelle, her life, her legacy and her organization, Sharsheret. I was amazed by all that she did and accomplished, and by the amazing organization she created.… Continue reading
Sheila Solomon, MS, CGC is a Certified Genetic Counselor focusing in clinical cancer genetics for the past 15 years. In addition to her work as Sharsheret’s Program Coordinator, she is employed by GeneDx, Inc., a subsidiary of BioReference Laboratories. Sheila is pleased to… Continue reading
When I was diagnosed about two and a half years ago, it came as a total shock. I had exercised avidly, was not overweight, had no history of breast cancer in the family, and didn’t smoke or drink. All the answers to the myriad of questions by health care professionals were all… Continue reading
When a mother sees an article titled “Are the Kids All Right” she is likely to read on eagerly to see what sage advice the article could provide to help her fulfill her maternal mission of keeping her child safe. We have all seen articles like this in the popular… Continue reading
Monita Buchwald is a free-lance culinary professional and the former recipe tester for Martha Stewart Living magazine. She's a breast cancer survivor and a Sharsheret Peer Supporter.Proper nutrition combined with weight control and exercise is a game plan that everyone can… Continue reading
You may be surprised to learn that most women do not know their breast density. I started getting mammograms in my 40's, and I learned that I had dense breast tissue, just like 50% of women who get mammograms. What happened next changed my life and opened a new chapter for me.In… Continue reading
Naomi Baum is a psychologist and trauma expert, and the author of Life Unexpected: A Trauma Psychologist Journeys Through Breast Cancer and Free Yourself From Fear: The Seven Day Plan For Overcoming Your Fear of (Recurrent) Cancer.One of the issues that anybody with cancer has… Continue reading
We didn’t know what to expect. We set five tables with pink tablecloths, pink plates, and pink utensils. The food was all cooked and ready, now we were waiting for young Jews in the Seattle area to show up to our home. About 15 minutes before 6:30 pm (our called start time)… Continue reading
The poet Yehuda Amichai must not have been privileged to have an encounter with Rochelle Shoretz, the founder of Sharsheret, when he crafted the poem:A man doesn't have time in his lifeto have time for everything.He doesn't have seasons enough to havea season for every… Continue reading
When people ask me to describe my sister Rochelle, I do it in one sentence: She was great at life. She approached any endeavor and obstacle with tenacity and always gave one hundred percent. Her motto, that I’m sure everyone at Sharsheret knows, was that there are no problems,… Continue reading
Excerpted from a Pink Shabbat D’var TorahIn the Bible, we learn the story of Noah- a man who was righteous for his generation- that took a journey he never would have planned. Since he’s a righteous fellow, God speaks to him-Noah, I’ve decided to wipe out the earthNoah,… Continue reading
I am beginning my senior year at Stern College majoring in biology. The decision to commit the time and effort to run a marathon was a difficult one. However, I'm now all in! Sharsheret is an amazing organization that has made a difference in so many lives and families, mine… Continue reading
Mammograms are not particularly pleasant. Also in the unpleasant category- getting a letter from the breast imaging center informing you that because your breasts are dense, you also need a sonogram.I went in for the sonogram. After having had so many ultrasounds during my… Continue reading
