Sharsheret (organization) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Sharsheret is a national Non-profit organization

Non-profit organization

Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

dedicated to serving the unique concerns of Jewish women with breast cancer

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...

Founding

In 2001, following her own diagnosis of breast cancer, 28 year old Rochelle Shoretz recognized a need for a breast cancer organization that would specifically provide culturally sensitive support for Jewish women. Common concerns include the increased genetic risk of developing breast cancer among Jewish women of Ashkenazi descent, pregnancy

Pregnancy

Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...

after diagnosis, parenting, relationships and intimacy, the role of religion in daily life with cancer, and the impact of breast cancer and its treatment on religious rituals and Jewish spirituality. To address this need, Shoretz, a former Law Clerk to United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Joan Bader Ginsburg is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Ginsburg was appointed by President Bill Clinton and took the oath of office on August 10, 1993. She is the second female justice and the first Jewish female justice.She is generally viewed as belonging to...

, founded an organization dedicated to linking together Jewish women facing breast cancer. She named the organization Sharsheret, (Hebrew for "chain").

Since the organization’s founding in 2001, Sharsheret has received more than 15,000 phone calls and e-mails from those affected by breast cancer, health care professionals, women’s organizations, Jewish organizations, and others interested in learning more about the important services Sharsheret provides nationwide.

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

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